NEWS: Geelong’s Obaidullah Jamshidi representing Australia at Homeless World Cup in Glasgow
GEELONG’S Obaidullah Jamshidi is one of seven homeless and disadvantaged players representing Australia at the Homeless World Cup, currently being staged in Glasgow, Scotland.
PHOTO: The Australian team at the Homeless World Cup in Glasgow. Geelong’s Obaidullah Jamshidi is pictured far right (Photo courtesy of homelessworldcup.org)
The international football tournament is running from July 10-16, with teams from 51 nations competing at the major event. The Australian team, which includes the former Corio Soccer Club junior, was selected from The Big Issue’s Community Street Soccer Program.
The talented 19-year-old Afgani Australian spent the first 15 years of his life in a Pakistani refugee camp, before arriving in Australia four years ago.
Obaidullah attended North Geelong Secondary College and excelled both as a soccer player, as well as an athlete.
He has since completed a Level 4 Referees’ course and is an accredited referee, having officiated at local GRFC games earlier this year.
The Big Issue CEO Steven Persson said the tournament used the universal language of soccer to break down barriers and promote community engagement for players from all walks of life.
“The Homeless World Cup is an opportunity for our Street Socceroos to connect with homeless and disadvantaged men and women from around the world in the spirit of friendship, social inclusion and fair play,” he said. “For some, this is also their first opportunity to travel outside Australia.”
The Australian team was selected from hundreds of participants in the Community Street Soccer Program – a national grassroots initiative that uses soccer to help participants reconnect with their community and make positive changes in their lives.
In its first five group matches, the Australians have lost four matches and won only once, defeating Slovenia 8-3 in their second match.
The YouTube link to the Australia-Slovenia game can be viewed by clicking on the following link...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIQfd72pS-E&list=PLnHc6ARgu0pOU9UfCGK0wui7t74tVu8O4&index=44
Highlights from all the games played so far at the Homeless World Cup can be viewed by clicking on the following link...
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnHc6ARgu0pOU9UfCGK0wui7t74tVu8O4
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