New Season

Street Soccer played its first two games on back to back nights. We almost didn't make this evening's game when our van got a flat tire just one mile after leaving the UMC. The tire had a big gash in it and we inflated it just enough to go back to the center by using a "flat fixer" can we bought at a gas station around the corner. Back at the center, we piled into the coaches two cars and made it to the game 2 mintutes before kickoff. Good thing we left early and got dressed out ahead of time.

In the new season four new team members have stepped up to make contributions. The likes of John Oliver and Patrick Allen, though new to the games, have come in and played their part. John from Nigeria despite being over fifty years old left his feet for two slide tackles in this evening's game. Our experienced player like Jorge, Pop, Dave, Michael, Andre, Tony, and Junior were also back in action.

The energy and attitude of the team has never been better. It is exciting to coach to see all the the players so excited to play and so full of energy even after the game. We were adjusting to a new style of soccer, playing without walls, seven a side, but managed a win on our first game. Tonight we played much better strategically against a strong opponent. Although we can improve a lot, we gave our selves the opportunity to win, but missed several easy chances, including an open goal shot to tie the game in the last minute. Two moments stick out, when our goalie collided with the opponent and instead of following the ball went straight to our opponent to see if he was alright. Well done, Tony Kelley. Then after the game, new team member called for an early morning practice at 6am in order to get ready for next week. Actually though, we have a bye this week, so player will be setting their season and life goals as well as practicing for our next game october 8th.

Ron Miller writes about his experience at the Homeless World Cup for Orato Magazine

This story was written by Charlotte's own Ron Miller. Ron, who was with us as part of Team USA at the HWC, wrote this for Orato, a webpage featuring FIRST PERSON, citizen journalism from around the world. We admire Ron for expressing his feelings and emotions as he chronicles here his battle out of homelessness and playing street soccer with Team USA and with Street Soccer 945.

To see the article in full visit: http://www.orato.com/node/3454

By Ronnie Miller , Brooklyn, New York 09/05/07

I'm from Brooklyn, New York. I lived there my whole life. I’m not really comfortable with telling you how I ended up on the street.

I have no experience playing soccer. I just came out there and started playing down at the Urban Ministry, and I just stuck with it. A buddy of mine was already playing soccer there, and he introduced me. I wound up joining in the practices and then I just stuck with it.

It helped me to be more of a people person, interacting with others. On the team, you meet so many other people with different backgrounds and you have to learn how to adapt to these people. The coaches there are also a great help, as far as getting things done, helping you set up interviews – right now, I got steady work and a steady place to stay, so everything has been positive. It’s been a good turn around.

Once you take a blow like that and you’re down to nothing, you gotta build your self-esteem back up. It’s all about building your confidence, with your teammates cheering you on, giving you different pointers on and off the field.

Being out on the street, I’ve seen a lot of things. There are a lot of young people that are homeless, and some that just have nothing to do with their time. If they get involved something like this and it’s positive and will build them up to be a better person, no matter what they’ve been in the past, then I think it’s very much needed.

This year, we traveled to Denmark, Copenhagen for the Homeless World Cup.

When you’re homeless, you don’t think about flying thousands of miles to somewhere else to play some soccer – that’s not the first thing that hits. It’s far fetched from the mind at that time.

We had 48 other countries out there. It’s really about trying to bring awareness about homelessness and trying to give motivation and show that you can do better with your life. For me, I felt great out there, trying to break the stereotype of what” homeless” is. We’re more than just what everybody is brought up to think.

I was representing the USA team, and I went out there and played my best. I just enjoyed the camaraderie of all the other teams, meeting other people from different places, knowing that you’re not the only one struggling out there. These guys all have good stories – they’ve turned their lives around, so all that is an inspiration to you to say you can get back on your feet.

It was a wonderful feeling just to be able to go out there – the shock didn’t hit until we came back that we just went across the world and played in a world cup. I don’t even know how to really put it. It was a great experience meeting people from different nationalities and being able to converse with them and swap stories. It was about more than just playing soccer.

When you’re out here on the street, you build your own little communities – you’re networking within the homeless community that you’re in, sometimes to get ahead.

I got my job and I got a place to stay, and if a dude that I know looked out for me, showed me where to go, how to get there, what agency does what – if he needs to come take a shower, or he’s fatigued and he needs to get some rest because he needs to go to work, then my door’s open.

I love my kids. I always got to give them a nice shout out. She’s only two and he’s one, but I have brought them to soccer practice before - and that’s my motivation right now.

Final Day

Daniel, Ray, and Elmer show of the Ombold Trophy competion plate for fourth place as well as their medals. The US earned the respect of its opponents and the referees after an excellent showing in the Cup. We will return home proud and ready to share our story.

An exciting final saw Scotland beat Poland to win the Homeless World Cup.

You can see the large crowd as well as Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik in the brown jacket next to HWC president Mel Young.

Thanking the crowd

pregame photo before our final match against Greece.

Ambassador Cain returned to watch our quarter final victory over Argentina. You can see our players and coaches, the Ambassador in the red tie and Dave Tyahla from the US Soccer Foundation--the charitable arm of the US Soccer Federation, on the US sideline for the match.

Penalties again . . .

The US beat Argentina 6-4 when Michael McGregor scored a late goal and Daniel Martinez added another. For the US it was another in a string of victories. The win also placed them in the semifinals of the Ombold Trophy competition. After dominating and improved Austria squad, the US gave up a goal at the end the end of the first half and then again just one second before the end of the match to finish in a tie. Sharp play in the field did not extend to tidy finishing in front of the net as the US really should have openned a wider advantage. Despite two saves by keeper Reggie Jones, the US missed it's final penalty, allowing Austria to advance to the final. Reggie was in tears after the game, but after the initial sadness wore offf, the team still felt disappointed, but know in their hearts that they have a lot to be proud of.

Ambassador Cain Attends match--USA gets 2 wins in 2 matches

Ambassador Cain, former president of the Carolina Hurricanes--the championship NHL hockey team, cheered from the US sidelines and spent time with several players before and after the match. Here he poses with the entire team.


Ambassador Cain, a North Carolinian himself shared his personal coin with Rob and Lawrence. Here he is with Rob explaining the design which is a sports motif encompassing both the Danish and American flags.



Here is Lawrence with the Ambassador chatting about the team and Ambassador Cain North Carolina roots.



On the walk back to the dorm after their second win of the day (6-1 over Canada; 8-4 over Kyrgystan) we caught up with Pop and Reggie who had stopped to help a little boy and his mother put the chain back on the boy's bike. Ray was with us and lended his expertise to finish the job. What sweet ambassadors.

USA wins big over Austria and Slovenia, tie Greece and goes down on penalties.

Despite the loss the US shows great sportsmanship running to thankt the crowd with their Greek opponents.

Captain Daniel consults with the referee before the penalty shootout.

Our team warms up for the big match against Greece.

Elmer scores on a penalty kick.

Three matches in one day was a challenge emotionally and physically. Here Reggie grimaces, preparing for the final match against greece.

Our guys have been in great spirits, acting as true goodwill ambassadors meeting Europeans, African, and fellow Americans traveling abroad.

US ties ireland 8-8, but go down on penalties, then beats India

Michael McGregor, pictured here, scored one of the goals of the tournament on a rare header goal, field in a long lob from Daniel Martinez and redirecting it into the ned. This gave the US its first lead 2-1 after going down early. The US proceeded to dominate the match, leading 6-4 at half, giving up a goal at the final buzzer. That goal would haunt the Americans when a late equalizer gave the Irish a tie. The Irish subsequently advanced after the first round of sudden death penalities.

For the US, the match showed the crowd the true caliber of our team, but the result was disappointing. Nevertheless, the team has been in good spirits. Last night on their own initiative they all went out on a midnight bike ride together on the free urban bike progam here in Copenhagen. Congrats to our boys despite the tought loss.

USA beats Slovakia!

Our first victory had everything you love about sports in it. With Dave out due to injury we moved Reggie into the net and put Daniel into the field where he made immediate impact scoring the first goal. Then, moments later he recieved a blue card once again early in the game for a call that seemed like it could have gone either way. We preach fair play before every match, and our players, many of whom came to us with anger issues, were put the test once again. We stayed composed and kept Slovakia off the scoreboard even playing a man down. Reggie made several tremendous saves including two penalty kicks. Pop had to step in after Daniel's card and delivered an incredibel performance in a new position in a hard fought match. In the end our discipline wore them down. We poured on several goals in the second half and won 6-1. Here is the picture after the game of the guys in high spirits.


The first game was rough. We ask our players to observe fair play at all times. When Michael McGregor slipped he tried avoid the opposing player, but inexplicably recieved a blue a card and had to leave the field. Shortly there after, Dave, Michael brother, suffered a bruised knee after a rough tackle. Here is a picture of the brothers in the training tent after the match. Spirits were low after the match, but we were proud of our team for maintaining their sportsmanship in match that infuriated them more with every passing minute. Congrats to Burundi who shrugged off visa problems to surpass us 4-2.

Match Day One

We played the runner up in last year's World Cup, a tough Kazahkastan in the first match. Reggie Jones scored first for the USA, but after two own goals we lost our nerve and tried to scramble back rather than stick to our disciplined defense and offensive strategy. The game ended 10-3 after Michael and Reggie added the 2nd and 3rd goals of the tournament. We learned a lot from Kazahkastan and the guys can't wait to get back out there for our 4pm match with Burundi to day.




The USA was drawn in the last group with Kazahkastan, Burundi, and Slovakia. We marched through the streets of Copenhagen with 48 countries tou our first match, cheering and singing till we all lost our voices.


Motivational Speaker Kevin Caroll addressed all nations, telling them a ball changed his life and that a ball had changed their lives as well. He said they needed to keep following that ball whether it remained a soccer ball or became a metaphor for their next dream in life. With this forward looking attitude, the games began.

Arrival in Copenhagen

Dave and Rob sport the US Soccer Federation gear at the openning dinner as the reality of being in Europe set in for everyone. Pop said he felt like he was in a time capsule. He said he got up every hour last night and just had to walk down stairs and stick his head out the door to make sure it was really real. Michael Blackwell and Reginald Jones got up early and already saw the royal palace and the parliament. We are really proud of our group who is soaking up the experience. Our team meeting was very serious and focused. The team sett goals to exhibit great teamwork, return to the us with dignity, show sportsmanship, and to win the whole dern tournament.


The team makes their way to the openning night dinner!



Daniel Martinez, our team captain, has done everything right for the past 8 months. He's moved into a permanent job, moved out of the shelter, bought a car. He's also a mature postitive influence on other team members. He applied for his passport 3 months ahead of the trip. There was a strike in Honduras which delayed matters, and then we learned a week ago that even though Daniel presented a proper birth certificate and his expired passport, green card, and other supporting documents, the Honduran secretary of foreign relations wouldn't issue his passport. Daniel never had a father growing up, so his mother changed his name to remove his father's sir name. Back then, in Honduras, everything was hand written. When the system was computerized, the goverment failed to update his info and the new birth certificate number Daniel was using belonged to someone else in their system. After hours on the phone with embassy and secretary of consular affairs in honduras and with the help of some lawyers we were able to correct the situation at the last possible moment. We got the code to print Daniel passport the night before our departure. Daniel and I celebrated prematurely however, because the greatest challenge would be getting the passport to us in time to leave. I worked the phones all morning to get the proper people in touch with each other so that the passport could be printed early in the day, then arranged for a courier service to ship it from DC to Newark. Here is a photo of Daniel and myself picking up the passport 2 hours before our flight. We jumped up and down and hugged and had the airport worker shoot this celebration photo. Our hearts soared and now we would could relax and enjoy the experience of a lifetime.


Before the trip we watched videos about Denmark, looked at maps of the world and Europe and then watched Gridirion Gang to pump us up.

US Cup and Conference 2007 PHOTOS!

A GREAT TIME WAS HAD BY ALL!


FAIR PLAY CHAMPIONS . . . WASHINGTON, DC


US CUP CHAMPS FROM CHARLOTTE


MVP . . . ELMER NUNEZ


BEST GOALIE . . . JOSE REYES


CONFERENCE SESSIONS PROVE USEFUL FOR NEW ORGANIZERS


THANKS TO THE FANS, TO THE SPONSORS-BANK OF AMERICA, EUROPSORT, AND COCACOLA BOTTLING, TO THE ORGANIZERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND PLAYERS!

US Cup and Conference 2007

US Cup and Organizing Conference 2007 starts thursday with National Team practice followed by a meet and greet of conference attendees at the Fox and Hound. The Conference is designed to launch Street Soccer USA, the national organizing body that will support the new programs starting up around the country. Programm graduates will share their experiences, corporate sponsors will speak, and community activists from the University of Nort Carolina will speak about designing succesful community projects.

The Conference Runs all day on friday from 9am -4pm (to attend call 704 926 0618 or 704 926 0633--also call if you want to register a team in the US for upcoming Cups and to be elegible to play in future Homeless World Cups).

Friday evening at 5pm there will be a rules demonstration followed by a Community Open Mic and cookout.

After a follow up session Saturday morning, Games begin at 1:30 at 945 N. College Street and last until 7pm.

Parking is available across the street at the Charlotte Area Fund on North Tryon.

Atttached is a conference schedule.conferenceinfo.doc

Trip to DC

The pictures above show Reggie and Pop in front of the Capital and DC Star Clyde Simms presenting the team with a signed shirt by all the DC United Players!

Also, Lawrence is pictured with 2006 DC rep to Capetown, Michael Knight.

And with Lawrence as well is Dave Tyahla from US Soccer foundation which has provided the team with Federation Equipment for the World Cup in Denmark.

Other pictures show Daniel Martinez, Boubacar of the Atlanta Taskforce, and Junior McGregor eating the great lunch provided by Street Sense Newspaper and the National Coaltion, our hosts in DC as well as members of the DC Squad and the national team at the DC United games as guests of US Soccer.

Great Dave! Dave Mcgregor makes U-18 Charlotte United Futbol Club Team

Street Soccer 945 star and Homeless World Cup 2006 Team USA member Dave tried out for the under 18 Charlotte United Football Club last night and made it! Lawrence and I have been watching Dave run circles around adults at the Sport Connection indoor league Street Soccer 945 plays in, but we both knew if David truly was going to pursue his soccer dreams he needed to be training with players his age on a regular basis and playing full field matches 11 versus 11. It is also a great for Dave to be in an environment interacting with kids who are planning on being college athletes, like Dave hopes to be. Street Soccer 945 is the most organized soccer program Dave has ever played for, he grew up literally playing in the streets in Panama without shoes.
When we got to the park I had to find Rob Daulton, the contact person at the club who said dave could come for a tryout. After getting everything straightened out and Dave got his tryout t-shirt with the number 435 on the back, the group of U-18 players gathered on the field kicking around waiting for the coach to come. When he got there the head of the club called the coach over and said "take a look at number 435, he's the kid from the Homeless world Cup." That really made me smile, I couldnt wait for things to get started. For me it brought so much joy to see just see him out there with kids from all across Charlotte fitting in and just playing. It just seemed like this was where Dave was supposed to be. For onlookers Dave looked like he fit right in. Although he was noticibly shy he fit right in and played simple one and two touch soccer and when he saw the right opportunity he showed off his speed and the flare that Street Soccer 945 has been privledged to over the last year. What onlookers didnt know was that this was the first time dave had actually worn cleats when playing soccer on grass. Usually he wore the old indoor shoes we had at the UMC. They didnt know that those cleats he had on were just donated by the same type of kids that Dave was now on the field with. They didnt know this was his first time playing a proper scrimmage where the coach was analyzing his every movement. I had to leave before the tryout was over but when I talked to Dave later in the night and asked him how it went he said modestly and confidently "oh yea, I made it." I could tell it was not just that inconsequential and I smirked as if to say "c'mon on man be serious" and he tried to be cool, like it really was no big deal, but he smiled and I could see his tremendous joy. The coach told him he was "a little raw" but not to worry because he made the team. Three Cheers for Dave!

Season Ends with 4-3 Loss

Street Soccer 945 fell in the quarterfinals of the Sport Connection open league last night in a contest that once again ended with praise from the referee's and spectators and our opponents. It was a well played and hard fought match. It was exciting, our team and our opponents fouled each other and gave each other helping hands when we fell to the ground. There was some physical play and really nice soccer from both teams. Both us and our opponents had genuine respect for each other after the match was over. This has not always been the case, whether it was us letting our emotions get the best of us or our opponents, we have witnessed both. Without having to be reminded after the game we hugged and shook hands with the other team. Our team realized how fair the match was and how hard we played and how we connected passes and acepted that we just did not win. Sometimes that is just the way things go, in life and in soccer. We had no excuses or regrets, we came up short and resolved to come back next season and go for the title that we are creeping ever so closely to. C-White, who had a great training weekend last weekend, played the begining of the game with our hispanic group of Dave, Elmer and Daniel, unfortunatley Daniel injured his shoulder in the first half and so we had to rely on not only White but Pop, Amil and Ray-Ray to play a big roll in this playoff game. Becuase of the nature of Street Soccer 945 and how players find their way onto our team we tend have small groups within the team of players. Our job as coaches is to break those groups fdown and work as whole unit. So you can have a feel for our group let me explain, there is OFT, our music group that hangs together and also shows their dedication to the team by coming to almost every practice. We also have brothers Dave and Michael, who dont make too many practices becuase of school and work, but are always reliable for games. Then there is the Honduran trio who also doesnt come to UMC regualrly because of work schedules and a steadily improving home life. Then there are the old timers like Ray-Ray and Mohammed. We all see each other once a week at games and sometime we click and we win big, but other times Dave and Michael try to play by themselves or Daniel and Elmer arent on the same page as the rest of us, or OFT has one guy tuned in and the others tuned out on the sideline. After bringing us all together last weekend for a Homeless World Cup National Team training weekend we had time to relax and be together without time restrains. We also were able to train and play in a less tense environment that the league games provide. Although we didn't win and there is still much work to be done before we depart for the Homeless World Cup, Street Soccer ended another season with high hopes and encouragement that again next season will be our best yet.

National Team Training Weekend

above picture features the team after their run at the US National Whitewater Park.



The nation pool of hopefuls for the travel sqaud to the Homeless World Cup in Denmarkn gathered in Charlotte for the nation team training weekend.

Players began training friday afternoon with a serious of street soccer mathces at the new Street Soccer Park. Later the national team headed outside the city to the US National Whitewater Training Headquarters for three mile cross country run. Players trained in T-shirts, shorts, and socks donated by the North Carolina Olympic Development Progam and in shoes provided by Europsort's passback program.

The 14 players trying out for 8 spots showed excellent teamwork and good spirit throughout the weekend. Player stayed together at Covenant Presbyerian Church both Friday and Saturday night. Saturday was the longest training day including a morning run and station training before the DOWD YMCA opens its doors to the team for an early afternoon swim and bath. The day finished with a serious of four-a-side matches back at the Street Soccer Park. The team rose early for a final training run on Sunday before departing.

Once a final evaluation of documents is made, the final national team squad will be announced in approximately two weeks.

See here photos of the hopefuls and some video from the weekend.

New Street Soccer Facility Open!

Completion of Street Soccer Pitch:

Announcing a remarkable new facility!

Inspired by the Homeless World Cup, Street Soccer 945 in Collaboration with the College of Architecture at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte have completed a customed designed soccer pitch on site at the Urban Minsitry Center in Uptwon Charlotte.

The Street Soccer Park involved over 50 volunteers from the homeless community as well as the hard work and dedication of faculity and students who helped brainstorm, plan, and design the project as part of an Architecture and Activism course put together by UNCC's Linda Samuels and Street Soccer's own Lawrence Cann and advised by Art Professor Francess Hawthorne, also of UNCC.

The project was funded by the first ever Chancellor's Diversity grant at UNCC with matching funds from the College of Architecture and the Urban Ministry Center.

Additionaly, the project incorporated recyled materials and recruited donations of cement and other materials.

The pitch, designed for four on four street soccer in the style of the Homeless World Cup, is divided into a grid that includes original artwork including visual poetry, graffiti, and ex temporanious styles all done by members of the homeless community.

The park played host to national team training for Homeless World Cup in Denmark this past weekend and will host the cities from around the country at the second US Cup in Charlotte this July.

The park also incorporates a stage which will facilitate forums, concerts, and open mics, fostering a postive, proactive environment while raising awareness for the issue of homelessness in the US.