Homeless soccer competition kicks-off with awareness goal

ALL eyes may be on Basle this weekend but one group of soccer fans will warming up for the big match by playing a few small ones of their own closer to home.

The country’s newest soccer competition kicks off tomorrow morning when 14 teams of homeless players participate for the first in a weekly series of games culminating in the crowning of league champions and a knock-out cup final next summer.

Homeless support agencies like Simon, Focus Ireland and St Vincent de Paul; streetpaper Issues Magazine, and various hostels for the homeless are putting forward teams for the league which will be run along the seven minute-a-side rules of street soccer.