A STITCH IN TIME SAVES MEMORIES FOR FRANCISCO
Credit: Anita Milas
Sporting one of the broadest smiles – in amongst an ocean of positively cheery faces – at Hornet Stadium is one Francisco Davila, part of the referee team for this tournament and a California resident, whose journey to Sacramento has been paved both with experience of homelessness and inspiration from a Homeless World Cup legend. So, let’s start right at the beginning, with Davila FC!
“I grew up in Peru, one of 12 children – seven boys and five girls – and we played soccer altogether as a family and a team,” he explains.
By his mid teenage years, his father and a number of his siblings had emigrated to live in the US so, “When I was 16, I left home because I wanted to be with my family. I travelled through Peru to Colombia and there I ran out of money!”
Francisco spent many weeks on the streets of capital Bogota then journeyed through the country and into neighbouring Ecuador completely alone, with no money.
“I had to bed down on the streets, underneath the most sheltered tree, find the safest place to hide at night. I had to knock on doors asking for money, for food – it was a frightening and difficult time. Then, when I was in Ecuador, the military tried to take my passport then put me in jail, for no reason.
“For a whole week I wasn’t allowed to talk to anyone. I was young, I was terrified and when they put me in a cage with delinquent people I couldn’t sleep because I had to watch my back.
“They demanded a fee – I had to sell all the clothes I had left – to raise the money to make a payment to get out of the jail and leave the country.”
After a couple of years back in Peru, Francisco tried to leave again – this time with two remaining brothers – and was able to make the journey to the US to be reunited with his family who were, by now, based in Los Angeles.
“I was 18 when we were reunited,” he continues, “and I started playing soccer again there – it's a universal language – from Monday to Friday then on Saturdays I’d play beach soccer. Then I met my wife, and we married when I was 22 – and I forgot about soccer for a while as she was my focus!”
The couple then returned to his wife’s homeland of Chile for five years – where they had their first son, Josue – before coming back to the US to raise their family. Indeed, it was thanks to Josue that Francisco got back into football.
“My involvement in refereeing came about through my son,” he explains. “When he was eight, his team needed referees, so I volunteered to help. I really enjoyed it and, as I wasn’t playing any more, I started to focus on the craft of refereeing. I studied all the way up to being a referee instructor, taking charge of games with the USSF (United States Soccer Federation) who manage the referee association here.
“I became so involved that I decided to create a referee community called US Referee Connection – to provide news and information, stories and videos to referees, via a web site, across the United States. It grew so fast that referees soon became involved from Europe and across Asia.
While refereeing for AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organisation), a non-profit group involving youth teams, Francisco began teaching the craft around the United States, getting to know other referees and making contacts.
“I started interviewing referees after each game and became involved with Major League Soccer (MLS) – the professional soccer league here in the US – invited 20 or 30 referees to engage and ask questions, and that’s how the community grew.”
It was through this network, in 2009, that Francisco connected with the late, much-loved head of referees, Hary Milas.
“He was talking so enthusiastically about the Homeless World Cup, and how engaged he had become with the organisation since he had first refereed at the Melbourne event in 2008.
“As soon as I found out the HWC was going to be in Sacramento I emailed Street Soccer USA and Tiffany (Fraser, co-founder of Street Soccer USA Sacramento) contacted me right away. I was so excited.
“Last week I travelled six hours here from LA with my family, and we’re all staying here this week. I also have two girls and they play soccer, they’ve been at the Stadium all the time, watching the games. They’re so excited to see me working here, they keep hugging me and telling me to have a good time – they're happy that I’m happy!”
As a first-time HWC referee, how is finding the vibe? “Soccer is the same everywhere,” he laughs. “Once you’re on the field you just want to win the game!”
Then his expression mellows. “But here, you also sense the camaraderie. If you fall on the ground, someone will pick you up. You respect your opponent, you respect the game, you respect your referees. Even though the competition is as keen as any other soccer game, you can sense the players are happy, enjoying their time here, which is a little bit different.
“Some games might see teams winning 6-1 or 7-1 and I hear coaches telling their players ‘Go easy now, back off a little bit, let the other team play’. This is great because often, at this point, you would hear coaches say, ‘Nail them, score more goals.’ Here they respect the spirit of the game, which is pretty cool.
“They hassle for the ball, they don’t give up, they’re here to fight for each game and that’s really rewarding to see.”
For all his delight at finally being involved in a Homeless World Cup, there’s an equal measure of regret. Despite the years spent emailing, talking on the phone and cementing a relationship based on shared ideals, Francisco and Hary never met face to face.
Visibly moved, Francisco holds up his wrist to show a solid black digital watch, its face world-weary and cracked leather strap held in place with ad hoc stitches of thick dark thread.
“Hary sent me this watch,” he says quietly. “Even though the strap is a little bit broken, it’s tied together and I’ll always wear it for the memory of him.
“Thanks to him I got to know about Homeless World Cup and always wanted to be involved – finally, this year, it’s in my home country. I was so looking forward to meeting Hary but tragically that will never happen.
“On the first day all we referees got together and remembered him, had a moment to honour his memory. I was also honoured to have the pleasure of meeting his wife Anita today. I wish I could have met Hary but at least I’m involved with the legacy he left behind in this amazing group of referees at the event which was so dear to his heart.”
Credit: Anita Milas
Words: Isobel Irvine