Final Training

It’s official.  Martin Africa will not be able to go to the Homeless World Cup.  At least not this year, not with this team.  He still has not been able to get official papers and there is no longer time enough to process the paperwork necessary to get his visa, even if an ID were to miraculously show up for him tomorrow.   When he was informed that he would not be able to go, he said that he had come to that conclusion a week before on his own and has made peace with it.

He has, however, continued to train with the team and to support them, taking his responsibility as team captain seriously.  He is encouraging the rest of the players and will also choose another member of the team to take over for him, as captain, in his absence.  Everyone wants Martin to succeed and to hold onto the hope he has found over the last few months.  I am hoping the weeks while the boys are in Australia are not too difficult for him.

Practice on the Beach

Over the weekend, the team went on a training retreat outside of Cape Town.   They were up with the dawn every day, running and training on the beach at 5AM and following a rigorous schedule from there.  The energy and excitement is building as Friday morning’s flight to Australia comes closer and closer.  Some of them have expressed fears that they may find out last minute that they also will not be able to go.  Some are in the middle of exams for school at the same time as they are training and preparing to leave.  Some are experiencing health problems that are inhibiting their abilities to play to their fullest capacity.  But all are fighting hard and have their eyes set on that cup, wanting to represent South Africa well and with pride.

A neighbor

The community