Greece fitting two-time recipients of the Hary Milas Spirit of the Game Award
|Greece were awarded the Spirit of the Game Award at the Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup. Image: Anita Milas
When Greece Homeless World Cup team coach Chris Alefantis was informed his team would receive the 2024 Hary Milas Spirit of the Game Award—the second time in the award’s two-year existence—he placed his hand over his heart. Closing his eyes and nodding, he signalled there was no award he was more touched to receive.
The Spirit of the Game Award, which recognises and celebrates the inclusive, goodwilled way in which a team has conducted itself throughout the tournament, was created in honour of former referee Hary Milas, who passed too soon in 2021. An integral part of the Homeless World Cup community, Milas had refereed and provided referee kits since he joined the tournament in his hometown in Melbourne in 2008.
|Image: Anita Milas
|Anita Milas with Greek coaches Perkilis Papapanagis and Chris Alefantis.
Three years on from his passing, Milas’ legacy and influence is legion — so much so that some referees voluntarily created and wore arm patches entitled ‘Hary’s team’ this year — but he is dearly missed.
Receiving the award held particular resonance for Alefantis for a range of reasons: both he and Milas have Greek heritage and have lived in Melbourne; both are long-term Homeless World Cup contributors, having each joined the tournament in 2007 and 2008, respectively; both operate with an empathetic, human-first ethos where the football is incidental to the player personal development.
In fact, in many ways, their experiences and approaches mirror or complement one another. Milas, for example, was known for his compassionate way of operating, including implementing the Whistle of Hope: a whistle that is presented to a player for a particular moment of inclusive, considerate effort. Alefantis likewise explicitly seeks to bring a team that plays football to become better people rather than better footballers. So Alefantis understood better than many the significance of, and the important meaning behind, the Spirit of the Game Award.
That Greece received the 2024 award is particularly noteworthy given that the team had experienced some illness throughout the tournament. But the players didn’t let illness slow them down—those who were able to take the pitch at any time gave it their all.
The Greek team were also generous with their applause and created shared benches alongside their opponents. This meant that instead of standing in ‘home’ and ‘away’ opposite ends, they gathered together in one communal, supportive group. Fostering a celebratory atmosphere, the Greek team greeted and cheered on each player equally as they entered and exited the pitch, irrespective of whether they were a teammate or opposition player.
The team and their coaches also ‘conspired’ through fair play to ensure their opponents received goalscoring opportunities. (At one stage, their efforts were even aided by a referee, who jokingly encouraging the Greek team to illegally field an extra player to facilitate the awarding of a penalty.)
The Spirit of the Game Award was presented by Anita Milas, Hary’s wife, a talented photographer and also longtime integral Homeless World Cup volunteer. The Hary Milas Spirit of the Game Award will be awarded again in 2025. Based on the Greek team’s consistently ethical conduct, it is possible they could be contenders for the trifecta.
Words: Fiona Crawford
Images: Anita Milas