VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - A group of men from Vancouver will be starting their quest for soccer supremacy at the
Homeless World Cup in Brazil on Monday. They say just being on the team is making a major difference in their lives.
All eight players come from the streets of Vancouver. After a year worth of practices, the team packed up and left earlier this week. But the experience goes beyond the pitch.
Team captain Kevin Anthony King says the experience has been life-changing. "Eight normal guys that started out from nowhere, just living on the street, just living day to day without really much to live for, now we have something that we will be remembered for, for the rest of our lives."
Head Coach Alan Bates says playing for the team gives these players a way to keep off the streets. "Street Soccer really works as a motivator change, a lot of these guys have jobs now."
The tournament runs through September 26th with about 50 countries involved.