SA street soccer team number 11 in the world

The SA street soccer team returned from the Homeless World Cup in Brazil this week ranked as number 11 world-wide.

“As South Africans we are extremely proud to come 11 out of 64 teams of the world. Considering the circumstances under which the team left, it’s a tremendous achievement,” said Western Cape Minister for Social Development Patricia de Lille, who welcomed them at the Union House in Cape Town.

Only three days before the international tournament kicked off, the team was missing R 200 000 to cover tickets and other subsistence due to lack of structure, but last minute canvassing by the minister secured them a sponsorship from Cell C.

“We now need to begin to put a structure in place so you’ll get ready (for 2011.) So next time you go, you move up the ranks or you win the cup for us,” de Lille told the players.

The team improved from last year’s cup, climbing the world ranking from number 17 to 11 and making it through to the dignitary cup, a step above the city cup that they won in Milan last year.

As she congratulated the players for their performance in Brazil, de Lille encouraged them to speak, asking them questions about their highlights and experiences: Did they have vuvuzelas in Brazil and did they break some ladies’ heart.

“I want to see you speak in case you make good politicians,” she joked.

One after the other the players showed their gratitude to their sponsors Hummel Africa and Cell C, to the minister and to the organisations that helped them in preparation for the cup.

“Brazil is amazing. The life I experienced there has made me not want to go back to the life I used to live,” said Mthandazo Magatya (21).

The team was also asked to sing their self-composed song, Bawelile abafana bawelile bawelile abafana, that they were famous for singing before their games in Rio.

Mjoka danced as the players started singing, enticing the minister to join him – which she did, laughing.

“The song says we’ve gone abroad and we’ve seen that we can change our life. It’s an achievement for us and we are now men,” explained Mjoka.