Player Profile: Samson Emmanuel, Hungary 2009
Posted on 13/09/2009
The player is representing Hungary in this year Homeless World Cup in Milan. 
Samson was born in Lagos, Nigeria from a family of 11 members. He loved football but he never had time to play because his parents were very strict with him and his 9 brothers and sisters. Samsons parents encouraged him to study even on his free time. He was offered to play with a football team in Dubai for two years. After that stage he left the team to go to Hungary. Samson describes the period as a nightmare, "There was heavy discrimination going on in my neighborhood. They kicked me out of my appartment claiming I was noisy. I knew other neighbors didn't pay the rent and were noiser that me but there was nothing I could do ".
Samson went to play to a small team in Hungary and claims there was still racism on the field. He says he was several times attacked by local gangs and police. During the interview he showed us the scars he was left with on his head after a quarell with the hungarian police.
Samson, now 24, is really thankful he is part of the Homeless World Cup in Milan. He adds, "They're really trying. People don't know what's it like to be homeless or to be attack because you look different. People think this event is a about a group of beggers that repudiates their Goverment and life. It's everything but that! What we've been through has nothing to do with lazyness, some of us had no choice. The HWC shows how some us were misfortuned for a time but decided to make a change in our life. We are 500 players that share a passion and incourage each other to keep doing beautiful things with our lives". Samson has now found a small nice appartment and plays professionally for the Hungarian team Inter F.C.
Cynthia Guzman Tamares
Photo credit © Matteo Mangiarotti/FOTO UP AGENCY
