Cambodian Children’s Fund (CCF) students have arrived in South Korea today (19 September) to represent their nation at the 2024 Homeless World Cup.
Happy Football Cambodia Australia (HFCA) has assembled a squad of eight youths for the event in Seoul from 21 to 28 September, five of whom are from CCF.
The news was announced at a media conference held at CCF's Neeson Cripps Academy high school in Steung Meanchey.
It’s the 12th time HFCA has arranged for a Cambodian team to participate in the “life-changing” football tournament, which features 70 teams this year.
And it will be fourth time lucky for player and CCF student Phorn, 23, who has seen his hopes of playing in the Homeless World Cup dashed three times before.
And it will be fourth time lucky for player and CCF student Phanna Phorn, 23, who has seen his hopes of playing in the Homeless World Cup dashed three times before.
He was selected for the 2020 event in Finland, but it was cancelled due to COVID-19. In 2018, the Cambodian team pulled out of the Homeless World Cup in Mexico over visa issues, and a year later, Phanna had to cancel his spot in the side for the tournament in Wales due to clashes with his high school exam.
It will be the proudest moment of his life to wear the Cambodian jersey and play for his country.
Phanna, who joined CCF’s programs when he was six, has been selected as the team captain, making the experience even more special for him.
The players who missed out will finally have the chance to showcase their talents on the world stage
Paraic Grogan, Founder of HFCA, said the players had been waiting for a long time to make their Homeless World Cup debut.
“Finally, the five players who missed out on Finland in 2020 will have the chance to showcase their talents on the world stage at the Homeless World Cup in Korea. HFCA is thrilled to give our kids the opportunity to compete with teams from around the world, gaining new experiences and further developing their skills,” he said.
Started in 2003, the Homeless World Cup aims to transform lives through sport and use football to raise awareness of homelessness and social exclusion.
This year’s cup will feature 70 nations and mark the first time the event will be held since it was suspended from 2020 to 2022 due to the COVID-19 crisis.
It’s an incredible experience that has a profound impact on the participants
CCF has been partnering with HFCA for more than 14 years to give disadvantaged children in Cambodia a chance to play football and learn vital life skills, such as leadership and teamwork, that can be used off the field.
“CCF has been supporting HFCA for years, and the goal of this partnership is to provide our young players with the opportunity to travel and play against teams from diverse regions worldwide. It’s an incredible experience that has a profound impact on the participants,” said Scott Neeson, CCF founder and executive director,
“Our past participants in the Homeless World Cup have shown significant personal growth and increased confidence after interacting with other youths with similar backgrounds. This experience helps them foster a stronger sense of community and greater confidence in improving their own lives,” he added.
The first Homeless World Cup took place in 2003 in Graz, Austria. The 2024 Homeless World Cup will be the first time it has been hosted in Asia.
Follow the excitement at www.homelessworldcup.org
