New Zealand 2008 Homeless World Cup by Everitt Johnson
Posted by New Zealand - 26/11/2008
Homelessness and street homelessness is an issue that affects all of us at some stage or another in our lives, and more often than not, it is through no fault of our own that we end up in this situation. I became homeless at the age of 15 when my father sold our house but it is only just recently (within the last 11 months) that I have experienced living rough or been street homeless...
...For me personally, my life has been an emotional rollercoaster ride filled with self doubt, frustration, anger, depression, and sadness. However not all was lost when I became involved with the LIFEWISE Centre (formerly know as Methodist Mission and/or Airedale Community Centre) and the Auckland City Mission. I have gotten to know these people and used their services for 5 years now and I am most grateful to them for their help guidance and understanding and offering hope.
Gail (Lynette) Denton: b. 5 April 1952 – d.10 November 2008
Although I did not know Gail Denton personally, I am aware of all the hard work that she did for people. Gail devoted close to 15 years of her life to the Auckland City Mission working with the likes of Wilf Holt and the rest of the staff at the Auckland City Mission, meeting the needs of not only the homeless and street homeless, but also for families in need of food and clothing amongst other things. As mentioned earlier, I have been a client at the City Mission for 5 years and I did see Gail from time to time and that is why I have honored her with this special dedication. She was certainly one of a kind, a very special person who will be sadly missed. At the 2008 Homeless Soccer World Cup my team members and I will be paying homage to Gail (in agreement with our coach and tournament organizers) and her hard work by wearing black arm bands in her honor. It was my idea and the least we could do as a team representing LIFEWISE, Auckland City Mission, Epsom Lodge, Wellington (Street Football Aotearoa) and New Zealand. For us, this tournament will not only be about turning our lives around, but it is also about remembering and celebrating the lives of “Aucklanders helping Aucklanders”. In more recent years, soccer was never my first choice as a sport to either play or watch on television (Rugby Union and Rugby League was). I did play soccer when I was a kid and back then it did not matter whether we won or lost, it was about going out there, giving it everything and having fun. I became involved with the Soccer Homeless World Cup through my Coach Steve Mcluckie who took up a position as a Social support worker at the LIFEWISE Centre in June this year. After attending a few training sessions at Victoria Park on each Monday afternoon, Steve appreciated my commitment and hard work and offered me a position in the team. From that point on, being picked for the team (along with seven other players) offered me a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to represent New Zealand in sport. I feel very proud and honored to be representing New Zealand and although there is the daunting prospect of playing some of the best street soccer teams in the world, I have the utmost confidence in my team that we can do really well and even, maybe even go all the way and take it all. I am really looking forward to this tournament and I am sure the other guys are too I would now like to take this opportunity to thank a lot of people and believe me there are a few. To my coach and manager Steve Mcluckie, for offering me a “once in a lifetime opportunity”. A big thanks must also go to our technical coach Steve Fletcher from Xerox who kindly donated his lunch hour to come down and train the boys. A big shout out to Katie Owen, Tom Kelly, Rhys, Tosh, John and family from Streetfootball Aotearoa for the wonderful training weekend at Forest Lakes in Otaki.. Also a big thanks to Wynton Rufer and Norm Hewitt for travelling down and inspiring the players when we were in Otaki. Thanks Air New Zealand for offering to fly our team to Melbourne and back home and also Pacific Blue for flying the Auckland team members to Wellington and back. A just as big a thank you to Canterbury of New Zealand (playing strip and uniform) and Adidas in Newmarket (Boots and Trainers). Thanks to New World and Felix cafe for donations towards our trip to Otaki. The Foot locker in Newmarket and Queen Street Auckland and Rebel Sport in Elliot Street in the City for helping promote our film screening of “Kicking It”. Also a big thanks to those people who have made personal donations and supported our campaign. But most of all to my team mates for whom I love and respect very much: Anthony, John (we really need you), Marcel and Norman from Auckland and Barry, Wayne and Willie (hope you can make it bro) from Wellington
Everitt, NZ Player
