10 December 2008
NZ Team Awarded Best Newcomers
New Zealand’s Homeless World Cup Team came home from the Melbourne tournament this week after a gutsy effort to place
40th in the 56 team competition.
They also celebrated winning the trophy for best newcomer. An award that was well deserved after playing hard, but fair,
in all their 11 games and not getting one citation for foul play.
Team Captain Everitt Johnson told the award ceremony the trophy was “truly a great honour” and that “hopefully we can
take all our experiences from here back home”.
Street Football Aotearoa coordinator Katie Owen says, “Players return to New Zealand tired but happy”.
Downtown Community Ministry Director Stephanie McIntyre says, “We’re very pleased for the team and the great experience
they had on and off the field. We also want to acknowledge all the players who trained with the team at the weekly
practice sessions. We look forward to supporting this initiative again next year.”
The undefeated team from Afghanistan were the 2008 Homeless World Cup champions beating Russia, whom they beat in the
group stages, 5-4 in the final.
ENDS