Russia lifts Homeless World Cup
2 October 2006
Russia claimed the Homeless World Cup title with a one-nil win over Kazakhstan in the final in Cape Town to bring down the curtain on the fourth edition of the event, which drew 500 players from 48 countries.
"One of my strongest dreams has been realised," said Russian captain Vyacheslav Shelayevsky. "Football helped save me."
Life changing
Shelayevsky’s words are backed up by a survey conducted after the previous World Cup in Scotland, which showed that 80 percent of the participants made major steps to change their lives for the better after the event.
Homeless World Cup co-founder and president Mel Young said the successful hosting of the competition showed the players had the ability to change their lives.
He described the week-long event as "fantastic", and said every participant was a winner.
'Viva Football. Viva Football'
Addressing a packed stadium
before the final, Young said: "We have proved again to the world that there is no need for homelessness and poverty. Viva football. Viva football."
South Africa ended their tournament on a high, thumping Zimbabwe 10-2 to lift the Premier's Cup.
The City of Edinburgh trophy went the way of Ireland after a 4-1 win over Finland 4-1, while Scotland captured the Big Issue Cape Town trophy with a 4-2 victory over Slovakia.
Zambia trounced Lithuania to claim the City of Cape Town Cup, and Zambia outplayed Argentina 5-2 to pick up the International Network of Street Papers trophy.
The Homeless World Cup was organised by the International Network of Street Papers (INSP) and was co-hosted by the Big Issue South Africa and the City of Cape Town.
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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