Festival Cinema Africano, Asia ed America Latina
Milan, Italy
Screenings will take place:
March 17, 2010, 4:30PM
SYNOPSIS
The story of Streetball, a documentary on South Africa’s 2008 – 2009 Homeless World Cup Teams
In Cape Town, there are two realities. Sixteen years after the end of apartheid, South Africa prepares to
host the FIFA World Cup and the country is ripe with celebration. New hot spots, airports and stadiums were built to welcome travelers from around the world. However, there remains a generation that lives in extreme poverty, with many youth falling into lives of violence, drugs and abuse.
Streetball is a fast paced documentary that tells the stories of South Africa’s 2008 Homeless World Cup team. The Homeless World Cup is an annual soccer tournament that draws teams from over 56 countries—comprised of homeless and the excluded. The SA Squad consists of ex-convicts, former gangsters, orphans and recovering drug addicts that band together to represent their country, proving that no one is beyond redemption. Streetball is a story of hope and of the resilience that dwells within the human spirit. But while these mens’ dreams are simply to have a home and to be recognized as people who need care, often times the realization of those dreams is accompanied by a sobering reality.
THE CAST
Meet the soccer players of South Africa’s 2008 Homeless World Cup team and their leaders in the Cape Town community.
Martin Africa grew up in Cape Town and lived on the streets since he was five years old. After spending years in and out of prisons and gangs, Martin found out he had a son and needed to find a way out of a life of drugs and gangsterism. In 2007, he attended trials for South Africa’s Homeless World Cup street soccer team. He was subsequently named captain of the 2008 team.
Thapelo Kalpens grew up as an orphan , living in a youth home. He’s a strong student and wants to attend college but is unsure of how to pay for tuition. He tried out for the Homeless World Cup team in hopes of gaining experiences and connections that would benefit his future. Thapelo made the team and was named vice-captain.
Sandile Mhlongo became an orphan when he was nine years old. He grew up in a children’s shelter but when he turned eighteen, he was sent out to live on his own. With no family or support, he ended up living on the streets. He heard about trials for the Homeless World Cup team and stood out among the competition. Sandile was a top goal scorer for the 2008 Homeless World Cup team.
Petros Nkomo, aka “Rasta,” grew up in Soweto and later moved to Cape Town. He was an orphan at age seven and struggled to find stability for himself on the streets. He spent some time in prison due to petty crimes and while he was there, he played soccer. He became an excellent goal keeper which made him an obvious choice for the 2008 team.
David Abrahams is a community leader, focused on developing youth structures. He founded the Western Cape Street Soccer League in 2006, in preparation for the Homeless World Cup held that year in Cape Town. He has since grown the league into the organization, South African Homeless Street Soccer (SAHSS) and works for the league on a volunteer basis.
Peter Cooksen coached the 2008 Homeless World Cup team. He works full time for organizations in the Atlantis community and volunteered for the South African Homeless Street Soccer League. His coaching provided guidance to the players as they prepared to compete in Australia.
Kgafela oa Magogodi is a Spoken Word Poet and film scholar. He taught at the University of the Witwatersrand and was also a guest lecturer at New York University. He has performed worldwide and was the first recipient of the Steve Biko Fellowship. His work explores the social roles and media representation of Black intellectuals, as well as the significance of maintaining cultural practices to uphold a vibrant civil society.
PRODUCTION NOTES
Behind the scenes stories of producing the feature documentary, Streetball.
Streetball was funded by South African PBO (Public Benefit Organization) and United States 501(c)3 public charity From Us With Love (FUWL). With little to no experience in the film industry, but a passion to share the triumphs and tragedies of the 2008/2009 South African Homeless World Cup Teams, Streetball began production in July of 2008.
FUWL asked filmmaker, Demetrius Wren to join them in South Africa in February of 2008 to photograph and make short documentary videos of their ongoing projects. While spending time with the South African Homeless Street Soccer League, President, David Abrahams suggested that Wren make a full length documentary film about street soccer. Wren shared Abrahams request with FUWL Founder, Michael Smith and Smith agreed. Within a few weeks, FUWL approved funding for Streetball.
Streetball was made by a crew of only two. Demetrius Wren and Christina Ghubril shot, wrote, interviewed, directed, edited, photographed, sound mixed, researched, graphic designed, and composed the elements that make up the film under the direction of Executive Producer, Michael Smith, who also founded FUWL in April of 2007.
Thanks to modern technology, two 25 year olds with a lot of passion could complete a film in their living room. Streetball was edited, sound designed and graphic designed on a Mac, using all Mac programs.
FUWL’s strong relationships with organizations involved with the street soccer league, gave Wren and Ghubril full access to the staff and players. Wren and Ghubril would often leave the cameras behind and spend time getting to know the players and the Cape Town community. The friendships that formed made it comfortable to hold conversational interviews and hang out at ease while a camera was around
Without a full crew or imposing equipment, Wren and Ghubril gained access into places and stories that are not often open to “outsiders” or media. Also, without Martin Africa, much of Streetball would not exist. He took Wren and Ghubril into locations that housed local gangs and to where many street people lived. Once, Ghubril watched a man twirl a gun at them while filming in the Quarry but he put it down when he saw Martin with the crew. On Long Street, Martin was told by some kids that if he wasn’t with the crew, they would’ve stolen the cameras.
Ghubril wanted to highlight South African musicians and artists in the film, to give context to the vibrant post-apartheid culture and generation. Wren was inspired by the “Take-Away Videos” — one-shot music videos of bands performing live in their community locations. The two combined their ideas and brought South African musicians into the fabric of the film.
While finishing her undergrad in Johannesburg, Ghubril met Wandile Molebetsi of UjU, and would frequent UjU’s concerts each week. Kgafela oa Magogodi was her professor at NYU and at the University of the Witwatersrand. On her spring break in Cape Town, Ghubril visited the District 6 museum where she was moved by Faith47’s artwork. Jitsvinger, the Rudimentals and ETC Crew, were found on myspace. They all generously donated their time, music and artwork to From Us With Love for Streetball. All proceeds from the film and soundtrack will go to fund From Us With Love’s ongoing projects to bring about hope in South Africa.
South Africa vs. Poland, Ghana, the Netherlands and Hungary
Playing at Yarra Pitch
It’s been a few days of ups and downs for South Africa but thankfully, the team ended today on a high note! A bit about our journeys:
School girls supporting South Africa
Brighton Primary School
Sandile in the School
Ethan greeting school kids
Riaan signing autographs
Yesterday morning, one of the local elementary schools had invited the South African team to come and visit their classes for a celebration of the team and time for the students to interview and mingle with the players in order to learn more about their lives, country and sport. I spoke to some of the guys on the drive to the school and they were open about their concerns. Many people here have greeted them with ignorance, wanting to buy them things in assuming ways or thinking that they are unable to take care of themselves in one way or another. There have also been some awkward moments with people condescendingly telling the team that they somehow sponsored the event and thus the boys. I think these moments come out of fine intentions, most likely, but come also from ignorance and end up insulting the players who are highly competant, intelligent and driven individuals.
However, when we left the school, the guys said that they felt welcomed by the students and were touched that the school was so interested in them, wanting to hear their stories and get their autographs. There were some mixed feelings, as well, as the team discussed the fact that they never have been–and do not think they will be–welcomed and praised in even a small school in their home country. I think it is really great that the students and the team were able to share this exchange.
Sicelo vs. Poland
Vuyo vs. Ghana
Ghana celebrating
Sicelo vs. Ghana
After the school visit, we all headed back to Federation Square. In order to place for the semi-finals, South Africa played against Poland and Ghana, two incredibly solid teams. The guys had expressed their concerns before the game about the fact that they were tired and struggling to pick their momentum up after the morning’s events. Once the game began, Poland was able to get a few solid shots in and create enough stability for themselves that South Africa couldn’t catch up. Poland won the game 8-1.
In the game against Ghana, South Africa showed up with their game faces on. Neither team was able to score for almost the entire first half, each side playing tough defense. Most of the game was played neck and neck between the two teams and again, in the end of the game, Ghana was able to pull through with a few solid shots and claim the lead with a final score of 10-6. Our guys were a bit bummed but ultimately knew that they had played incredibly tough teams and that, particularly against Ghana, had put up a good fight and could be proud about that (Ghana is now up against Russia for the Cup). We all spent the evening, again, hanging out together in the player’s lounge with many of the athletes from other teams.
This morning Demetrius and I got up early to get some shots of Melbourne and the surrounding areas. We got some beautiful shots of the ocean as well as downtown Melbourne before heading to the games.
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Today, the guys played the Netherlands and just barely lost in the final moments with a score of 4-3. This knocked them out of the running for the cup and they were pretty upset afterwards. There were some conflicts between the teammates concerning whose fault the losses have been and such and Thapelo, the captain, was down and concerned. They had a bit of a break before their final game against Hungary, however, and they came back energized and strong. They won 7-5 and are now waiting for the results of the rest of the teams to know how they place for tomorrow. I was glad to see them happy again, at the end of the day. We’re all looking forward to the next few days exploring Australia together!
Vuyo
Thapelo
- Coach and Riaan
Sicelo and South African fan
South Africa vs. Australia, Nigeria and Scotland
Getting ready for round one
Rasta in action
OK, so all of my competive-big-sister-used-to-think-I’d-be-the-first-woman-in-the-NBA sides are coming out. Exploding out, really. I’m all about street soccer. Our boys are doing incredibly well–they were practically a new team today. They arrived on the court this morning ready to play a tough game against Australia, who had a serious home team advantage. The crowds were full of Australians and Australia fans and South Africa wasn’t playing around. They were using their teammates well, playing a clean game with a lot of slick passes and scores and won 7-3. It was a great victory. I was “that girl” screaming from the sidelines with all of the neutral journalists. I gotta support!
Thapelo vs. Australia
Vuyo vs. Australia
Australian player
- Australia and South Africa celebrating together
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Our second game today was a lot harder. Nigeria is a tough team with a solid reputation. For almost the entire first half, neither team could score. Both sides played serious defense and have fantastic goal keepers. Nigeria scored the first point followed quickly by South Africa and so the rest of the game went. Eventually, Nigeria got a two point lead and the rest of the game was spent catching up a point, losing a point and, in the last seconds of the game, Nigeria scored again. South Africa lost with a final score of 10-7 in favor of Nigeria. They put in an incredible fight, however, and can hold their heads high knowing they fought a very good team well.
Nigeria in action
Nigeria's goal keeper
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Scotland’s team are the reigning champs from last year. All of the teams we played against today are powerhouses. Again, South Africa put in a good fight but the guys spoke about how tired they were by the end of the day and that they didn’t feel good about their final game. We lost 9-4, in the end. Also, Scotland’s team has several more players than South Africa’s team. Especially without Martin, South Africa has only six guys to rotate with and Rasta has to play keeper non stop. He was particularly exhausted by the end of the day. Again, he did an excellent job all day but felt that by the third match, his stamina was down.
Coach
Rasta after a long day
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Sicelo after a serious game
Vuyo at the end of the day
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We all grabbed dinner together at a local burger joint and it was great to see the guys relaxing and having a good time. The shared some pretty funny stories of things they’ve experienced over the last few days, their perspectives of women from different countries, and also were honest that they’ve had a hard time building relationships with players from certain African nations due to the xenophobia and violence that went on in South Africa last year. The team feels that the players from Zimbabwe and Malawi, in particular, do not trust them and are not as open to becoming friends as some of the other teams are. Yet it sounds like they’ve had some good conversations with players from other countries, particularly Brazil, swapping stories of what life is like in their respective homes, what the landscapes are like, as well as what gang life is like in various communities. I think it has been an eye opening experience for them, overall.
School boys playing outside the arena
Australian school children in crowd
Braiding a local's hair
Girl braiding volunteer's hair
Australian's outside the arena
Australian musician on the street
Yarra River
Aussie locals who sang American spirituals with the South African team in a restaurant
Australia
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Tomorrow is another round of games marking which teams will make it into the finals. Wish our guys luck!
South Africa vs. Greece, Germany and Kenya
Thapelo
Player from Kenya
Whew! It was another intense day of street soccer. South Africa played three matches today: against Greece, Germany and Kenya. They started off the day with a four point lead against Greece but in the second half, Greece caught up and tied South Africa, winning the game in another shoot off. Similarly, South Africa and Germany ended their game in a tie and this time, South Africa took the shoot off, once again. In their final game against Kenya, they lost by two points. They played a hard game and due to the tough defense on both sides, not many points were scored by either team, but ultimately, Kenya’s precision and focus helped them to win the final match of the day.
The great thing was that after the game, both teams hugged each other warmly, congratulated each other and met up behind the field for photos of both the South African and Kenyan teams, together with their coaches. They chanted together in support of Africa and our guys were very positive about the game, believing they played hard and are still in the running to make it to the finals if they play right tomorrow.
Almost injured Rasta
Tonight there is a bar-b-que for all of the teams to come together and celebrate over traditional Australian food and recreation. Everyone’s looking forward to some time to hang and enjoy the international company of fellow players. Hopefully, the team will get a good night’s rest tonight before another full day tomorrow. I’m tired from just watching them play all day…
South Africa vs. Chile
Melbourne
South Africa played their first game today against Chile. It was a tough match–an intense game for Rasta, the goalie, in particular. He did an excellent job blocking many solid shots. It was the best I have seen him play to date. About a week before we left, he had injured one of his thumbs, so I think was playing it cool in practices to maintain his hand for the actual tournament. Rasta is fierce on the field!
South Africa had taken the lead in the first half but ended the game tied. In street soccer, when teams end with even scores, each team picks two players to participate in a shoot out. When it comes to winning in this situation, much of the pressure is on the keeper/goalie. Each team takes a turn with one of their chosen players trying to score a goal. Essentially, whoever misses first loses. It was a high intensity game with quite a few rounds going back and forth during the shoot out but eventually, South Africa won! There were South African supporters in the crowd who now live in Australia and were so excited for the team. It was great to see the guys celebrated after the game.
Rasta getting pumped
Ethan scoring
After the first match, we spoke to Thapelo, the team’s captain. He was not entirely pleased with the way his team played, although they were able to win the game in the end. He believed they needed to be more focused and precise and work better together as a team. Also, he said that it was a difficult game because the turf they are playing on here feels very different to what they are used to back home and so running and controlling the ball was more of a challenge.
Sandile and Thapelo
Sandile in Action
South Africa will be playing three games tomorrow against Germany, Kenya and Greece. Hopefully they will rest up tonight and show up refreshed, focused and energized for such a big day.
The coaches
Celebrations: Sandile, Vuyo and Ethan
Rasta getting some love post win
South Africans in crowd
Ethan
Riaan
First days of the 2008 Homeless World Cup
Thapelo in Opening Parade
Sicelo in Melbourne
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We have now been in Australia for two days. As traveling usually is, it has been quite a whirlwind of events. There were several near missed flights with our crew running through international airports, Sandile spent a night alone in Johannesburg due to a flight mix-up, the second crew had trouble leaving the country and so missed their flight from Hong Kong to Australia and ultimately canceled the first day’s games. However, everyone is now safely in Melbourne and so far, having a magnificent time.
Players from India
Player during opening festivities
The opening ceremony was a special event. Local musicians and indigenous Australian dancers performed for all of the teams. Mel Young, the creator of the Homeless World Cup, spoke to the crowd, encouraging each player on their journey. The event ended with a drumming crew playing through the hall and many of the players from around the world dancing together on the stage at Melbourne University, where the event is being held.
I was moved nearly to tears several times during the ceremony. There are 56 countries from all over the world represented at this year’s event. It is a beautiful sight to see flags, country colors, jerseys and hundreds of excited faces from so many places and cultures. Multiply that by the scenarios these athletes have lived through and the hope that is inherent in their presence here, at an international competition, and I was more inspired than I have been even by the Olympics. There are some absolutely phenomenal individuals at this event and the city is buzzing from it all.
Portugal
Namibia women
The Netherlands
New Zealand
Melbourne has done what seems to me to be a fantastic job of organizing for the Homeless World Cup. Over 900 volunteers are coordinating all of the games, the crowds, the set up, etc. Local schools have assigned different teams to their various classes and so each team has a solid fan base and is being chased by kids who want the players’ autographs and arrive enthusiastically, country flags painted on their cheeks in each team’s colors.
Supporter of Ethiopia
East Timor
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The games began yesterday and every team showed up ready to fight. These preliminary rounds are the placement games. Because no one is allowed to play in the HWC more than one time, each year it is unknown which teams will be the strongest. Last year, Scotland won first place. From the matches I saw yesterday, many were close calls between equally solid teams. There were a few significant wins, however. In particular, the team from England is tough. They scored goal after goal and all of their players showed up with incredible strength and ferocity. From the sidelines with my camera, I thought I might lose my head a couple of times. Also, the women’s team from Kyrgyzstan did very well. Their team looks young and potentially passive but their skill and footwork was impressive and they won a solid victory against Australia, as well.
England (in White) Vs. Sweden
Players from England
Street soccer is a bit different than field soccer. Each team has 3 players on the court and one keeper/goalie. One player must be on their side of the court playing defense at all times. The court is much smaller and the games are 15 minutes each, played in two halves. The walls of the court are used to bounce the ball off of and pass it to other players so to win, one must be ready for a lot of fast running and brave handling of a ball that is being shot with great power around the court.
Thapelo signing autographs
South Africa supporter
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Our guys play their first game at 4:40 today. They are more than fired up and excited to get out there and play. They will be playing Chile, in this round. Tomorrow, they are up against Greece. Send up some good thoughts for South Africa!
Australia Bound
South Africa's 2008 Homeless World Cup Team
Today was a full and beautiful day. While most of our home country celebrated Thanksgiving, Demetrius and I awoke with the sun to meet up with the Homeless World Cup team for their send off ceremony. We all gathered beforehand and the guys were given their uniforms and warm up suits, shoes, toiletries and duffel bags for the trip. It was a fun time with a lot of energy in the air. Many of the guys said they couldn’t sleep last night, they were so excited about the journeys ahead. We took some team photos then headed to City Hall.
Riaan, Ethan, Vuyo and Sandile
Riaan and team
Riaan, Ethan, Vuyo and Sandile
Thapelo, Sicelo, Rasta and Martin
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The Deputy Mayor gave a short speech and affirmed the team in their abilities to represent South Africa positively while in Australia. Fifty-six countries will be represented at this year’s Homeless World Cup and the team is carrying the baton of not only representing themselves as individuals, or even as a team, but as a country.
Deputy Mayor of Cape Town
Mayor greeting team
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Martin stuck by the team all day. He has passed his title of captain to Thapelo, who he believes is a strong player and role model for the rest of the team. I know this part of the experience is very painful. I believe Martin will come back strong next year, ID papers in hand, ready to lead the 2009 team to victory. All of us deeply hope so.
Thapelo, the new team captain
This evening, we joined David Abrahams at a going away party that Ethan’s family was throwing for him before he leaves for Australia. It was wonderful to see how much support Ethan has and to see what a symbol of hope he is for his family. We met his siblings and parents, godmother, girlfriend, cousins and friends. I felt blessed to be included in such an intimate gathering and thought, in lieu of Thanksgiving with my family, sharing fried chicken and samoosas with a beautiful family near Cape Town was just about perfect.
Ethan's friends and family
Ethan's family
Ethan's baby brother
Ethan's mother and brother
Ethan and his friends
Ethan and his girlfriend
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Tomorrow, we hop on a flight to Hong Kong, ultimately to end up in Australia. I’m interested to see how these brimming with energy athletes hold up while stuck on a 16 hour flight. As always, many journeys ahead!!!
Rasta, Riaan, Sandile, Sicelo, Demetrius, Thapelo
Riaan, Sandile, Rasta, Sicelo, Christina, Thapelo
Last Days in Cape Town
View of Table Mountain from Robben Island
A Cafe in Cape Town
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It’s hard to believe this part of our journey is almost complete. In two days, Demetrius and I will join South Africa’s 2008 Homeless World Cup team on a flight to Melbourne, Australia, for the long awaited international competetion. The air around us is full of energy, excitement and also some fears. We are all dreaming of Melbourne, looking her up on the net, talking about what she could be like. It’s almost time to find out.
Knowing we only have a few days left in Cape Town has kept Demetrius and I fairly busy. Over the last few days we spent time with a local graffitti writer and artist, Faith47, learning more about her processes and voice in the community. We visited The Oasis, another organization that uses street soccer to reach local youth–particulary at risk individuals–and builds relationships through the game in order to then mentor and assist the players throughout their life development. We spent a morning with another community leader who also uses street soccer to reach homeless guys and interviewed several members of his team about their experiences, first hand, working with these guys.
The stories are the same: street soccer is the cheapest and most effective way to reach street kids. All you need is a ball and the kids will come. Once the kids have gotten to know the leaders a bit, they will begin to open up. Once they know they are loved, many of them no longer want to use drugs or live on the streets. I know it sounds much simpler than it is but the bottom line story we are hearing from all sides is that these guys need to know they are loved and need to be heard in order to begin on a healthier path. Street soccer is a way to begin to build relationships as well as to offer a physical outlet, goals the players can work towards and reasons why they are needed, as well. The team needs each other. The younger players need the older ones to act as big brothers/mentors. Once they are hooked into a community, their leaders can help them find other opportunities for work, creative outlets, education, sometimes counseling. But it all begins with the game.
Boys in Happy Valley
Fruit Stand in Happy Valley
During several interviews, we were also taken on a tour of some of the townships in Cape Town that are less “famous” than Khayalitcha. They don’t end up on the news so much or in people’s debates and conversations but the stories there are just as real and challenging. There are no schools whatsoever in Happy Valley and so the children have to ride sometimes two hours and/or walk long distances to get to school in neighboring townships. We were there on a Monday afternoon and there were kids of all ages, everywhere, not in school. We also visited a newer settlement that was a squatter’s town but has grown to be a full community. Theyhave organized their own local leaders who are internally recognized. There are 2 outside pumps for water access and several outhouses and that is this community’s main access to water and toilets. There are no schools, but there is a recently opened creche for the babies. Many people who live here were once homeless but have come together and made a community for themselves, have homes and some level of stability and protection here.
Water Pump
In the afternoon, we went to Robben Island for a tour of the prison Nelson Mandela lived in for 18 years (he spent a total of 27 years in prison, but 18 of them were on Robben Island). It is a very stark place. Now, a historical site and tourist attraction. Many of the tour guides were once prisoners there, themselves. I am blown away by the courage it would take to be back there, guiding tourists through your old cell every day. Most of the prisoners on Robben Island were political prisoners who were against apartheid and arrested and tortured for fighting for their freedom. Many of them were very young men who were torn away from their families and loved ones, tortured and discrimated against and shipped off to an island off the coast of Cape Town. It was a prison for Colored and Black men only. There were separate facilities around the country for women and white men. There is something both haunting and hopeful about seeing a gift shop on a former such prison. I do not really know how to process it.
Nelson Mandela's former cell
Outside of the Prison
Off the shores of Robben Island
We have one more interview today and spend tomorrow with the team and gathering last bits of footage before packing up and leaving for Australia. There are many stories ahead of us still, I know. May the journeys continue!
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
Martin Afrika
Martin's first home
This morning we went to MyLife to meet Martin Afrika. There are still many complications concerning his legal identity, ID card and passport. Without proof that he exists and is a South African citizen, he cannot get employment, purchase a car, purchase or rent his own home or travel. The hospital he was born in shows that he was born on the same day on two different years and cannot verify his birth. The school that he grew up in burnt down and lost all their records. Many members of his family have passed away or are no longer in communication with him. He has been in the Department of Home Affairs office every day for the last two and a half months trying to sort this situation out.
After venturing to the Department of Home Affairs with him, Martin took us to the MyLife house where he lives. After visiting his current home, Martin took us to several of the places he lived for over 15 years on the streets. He left his home to live on the streets when he was ten years old due to abuse in his home. Over the last 20 years, he has also spent several in prison before trying to make positive changes to his life.
At the Quarry
The first place he took us was in the side of a mountain. It’s known as the Quarry. He took us on a detailed tour of the area, where he slept, where he made fires to burn the rubber off of copper wires in order to sell the metal, and introduced us to several of the people he lived with and made money with. There is no way Demetrius and I would’ve been able to be there, as Americans, with huge cameras on our own. At one point, while Demetrius was closely filming Martin, I turned around and saw a young man looking at us and twirling a gun in his hand.
Afterwards, we went to an unfinished bridge that Martin used to sleep under. Well, more like sleep inside. There were holes in the top of the bridge and twenty or so people could climb into these holes and sleep between the upper and lower levels of concrete on this bridge. On one side, it is connected to the highway. On the other, it just ends and people apparently have fallen off or been thrown off of the end. Because people can only enter from one side, Martin said it was safer than many places but it was dangerous because if anyone did come, there was no where to run to.
Martin on the bridge
The third place he took us was the first place he ever lived when he moved to the streets at age 10. It was under a highway overpass and clearly people are still staying there. He lived there for many years and told us the stories of transitioning from one side of the bridge to the other, why the first side was better and safer because it was harder to get to and it was close to a fence that opens to train tracks, which was a good place to jump and hide. Behind the bridge was an area that he used to hang his clothes to dry and he would go to chill out when he was stressed, if he was having problems with his girlfriend, etc.
Finally, we took Martin back to his house, where he has lived for the last 2-3 months. Once he joined the soccer league, he moved off the streets. He believes soccer changed his life and the volunteers at MyLife claim they’ve never seen such a swift success story before. Once he got onto the team, he stopped using drugs all together–after having used them since he was 13. He captains a team of younger homeless guys, is in charge of maintaining the food in his house and is clearly a leader among his peers. I can’t imagine what circumstances were like for him on the streets for so many years and from such a young age. The community is now rallying around him, hoping these changes last in his life and that he is able to move forward in the positive ways he hopes to. Getting a proper ID and affirmation that he does exist, I think, will be a helpful step in that direction.
Martin's bedroom at MyLife
Welcome to Cape Town
Singing in Cape Town from South Africa Street Soccer Docum on Vimeo.
Martin Afrika
Upon arrival in Cape Town we met up with David Abrahams, who runs the Western Cape Street Soccer League, and joined him as he traveled to Atlantis, a community where Vuyo, one of his young players lives, to get some paperwork signed that will allow him to play in the Homeless World Cup. Atlantis is a Colored community and without any traffic is about an hour outside of Cape Town. Most of the residents of Atlantis work in Cape Town and commute on community-devised public transportation every day.
David is the volunteer president for the Western Cape Street Soccer League. He has a full time job yet spends full time hours also making sure these boys have everything they need to get to the Homeless World Cup, pursues them when they go missing, and works with local NGOs who provide support to the players outside of practice and games. After running to Atlantis, we stopped by MyLife, a local NGO, to check out paperwork on the prison records of two of the team’s key players.
Martin Afrika is the captain of the team. He has been living on the streets since he was a little boy and is now almost 30. He’s been in and out of jail several times and is vigorously trying to move his life into a healthy place. Martin is full of smiles and openness to share details of his life story. He shared with us that he struggles to find a place to call home because when he goes back into his old community, they are afraid of him, based on his past behaviors, and he is afraid to get lost in that lifestyle again. He has begun to form a family with his fellow teammates and speaks fondly of them and the bond they are beginning to form as brothers.
There is currently no found record that Martin exists. Right now, he is unsure of whether or not he will be able to make it to Melbourne because he has no birth certificate, no ID card, no proof of when he was born or where he is from. The prison system has not been helpful thus far in providing any records of his stays there and so the hunt is on for his prison records, in hopes that this will prove that he indeed does exist and can get a plane ticket to Melbourne. Martin has made it clear that this soccer team, this trip to Melbourne to play in the Homeless World Cup, are his main life sources right now. This game, this community, are what is keeping him away from drugs and alcohol, what have helped him get into a home, find a roommate and a purpose.
The next few weeks will continue to be packed from dawn until dusk. We have interviews lined up, more shoots and meetings with artists, days spent with individual members of the soccer team and, of course, the journey to Melbourne for the Homeless World Cup. There are many hoops that must be jumped through and details that must be completed for the 8 members of the soccer team to all make it on a flight and to the events in Australia. They are all full of excitement and hope and their community is rallying around them. We are anxiously waiting to see how the rest of the story unfolds.
