Floating Football Festival
The Big Issue Community Street Soccer program kicked off last saturday on a floating football pitch in Darling Harbour.
Juniors were the first to test the pitch, purpose built for a nine-day festival of street soccer.
The festival culminates on Sunday 5 June with the national final of The Big Issue’s Community Street Soccer program. The program provides a platform for homeless and marginalised men and women to turn around their lives through playing football.
The pitch swayed on its pier as a pint-sized striker shot for goal. The crowd of proud parents and bypasser-spectators cheered, as the voice of MC and National Street Soccer Coach, George Halkias boomed over Cockle Bay, “A big shot slams off the cross bar. The score is 1-1. Time draws near”.
The occasional time-out for ball overboard did not dampen the fun of the kids, who were “over the moon” to be there, according to coach Paul Stanton of the Tahmoor Taipans under 8’s. Owen, a seven-year-old goalie, said he was very excited to be there. “He’s been counting down the days” said his mum Shalone.
The players learnt international street soccer rules for the event, playing four-a-side for half hour games. The Australian street soccer program operates in 25 sites across the country, and since its launch in 2007, over 3500 disadvantaged men and women have taken part.
Mr Halkias, who is not only National Coach but also program founder and an experienced counsellor, said,“We knew the power of sport to help people, and help people who really needed it”.
Paddy Nestle, who has been helping run the street soccer program for five years, has seen lives transformed.
“I’ve seen some of the guys completely turn their lives around”, he said. “We have one guy, he lost his whole family, he became an alcoholic. Four years later he is a drug and alcohol counsellor.”
Nestle said that the program filled participants with confidence.
“When you’re playing sport it doesn’t matter who you are, you are all on the same team when you’re playing and you’re in the game, and all the things that are problems aren’t really problems.”
Program results are extremely positive, according to a La Trobe University study, which finds that participants reconnect with family and the community and improve not only their physical health, but also their mental health and self-esteem.
Sponsored by the NSW government, the street soccer festival also includes a corporate cup and a government agency cup.
NSW Minister for the Arts, George Souris said at the event launch”The festival will not only showcase the power of sport to change lives, but bring together people from all walks of life.”
After the finals, a team of players will be selected to represent Australia at the 2011 Homeless World Cup in Paris, where representatives from community soccer programs in over 50 nations will compete.
