Hary’s Whistle of Hope awarded before first ball is kicked at Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup
|Photo: Angelica Ibarra Rodriguez
With a smile almost as bright as her yellow rain jacket, Darline Bell-Zuccarelli throws back her head and howls with laughter, the peals ringing around the arena where Homeless World Cup will soon kick off, as she shows off her new prized possession. The question which sparked the reaction? How on earth did a sprightly 64-year-old Maryland accountant, who’s never played football and only recently discovered the tournament via an internet story, come to travel alone to Korea and be awarded the first Whistle of Hope of the event – before a ball had even been kicked?
“I have end stage renal failure,” she announces. “I had a kidney transplant last year and, because my life expectancy is short, I wanted to go to a football world cup. My passion is the homeless, so I decided to combine the two and come here.”
On the face of it, a straightforward reply – but as with most quick responses, there’s a whole lot more to this beneath the surface.
Darline has first-hand experience of being homeless and surviving a challenging family background, as she explains: “I know what it feels like. I lived a very violent life. My parents were very abusive to each other and me, and my four siblings got caught in the crossfire.
“My father was murdered when I was seven and my mother died four years later. We were sent to live with my paternal grandmother but, because there had been a lot of tension between her and my mother, that animosity spilled over onto us and we suffered badly.”
The lowest point, at which her life could have gone either way, came, “June 17, 1975,” she clearly recalls. “That was the day I gave God an ultimatum. You either deliver me from all this or you take me, because I can’t live like this anymore.
“I tried to describe this moment recently to my own daughter, to just imagine all the horrors that had happened to me – the rape, the abuse – being laid on your chest then the Lord stepping in, lifting it off and hauling it away. Imagine it all just being a story that happened to you, that you can step away from and now you’re going to fight back.”
Her resolve led to her forging a bond with a sympathetic chemistry teacher and, just before her 18th birthday, Darline moved in with her and her family – who subsequently adopted her, when she was 38! – and began to live a life.
It’s a life that has focused on a resolve to help the homeless.
“Back in 2012 I built a tiny house, to show people it’s possible to address the issue, following Mandela’s mantra about making sure everyone has a house. I designed it – a 192sq ft tiny house which could accommodate a family of four – and built it in my back garden for $8000. The city authorities were angry and wanted to pull it down, so I ended up running for Mayor to highlight the issue!
“Then someone who heard my story reached out to the Pope and there was a newspaper story where he said ‘leave that lady alone, she’s just trying to help the homeless’ and, all of a sudden, they backed off.
“I didn’t get elected Mayor but the house is still standing!”
|Darline met Homeless World Cup President and Co-Founder Mel Young at the Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup. Image: Angelica Ibarra Rodriquez
And the football? Well, that’s not directly her bag but, “My husband, Gilmar, is a big soccer fan and I fell in love with the game because he’s in love with it. After my transplant I just wanted to spend the time I have left making memories with him and we considered going to the World Cup in 2026, but thought I might not make it.
“So when I found out about Homeless World Cup it was a marriage made in heaven. He couldn’t endure the flight and, due to my medical condition, I didn’t think I could do it but flew 17 hours here via Montreal and arrived yesterday, to realise our dream.
“When I told my daughter, Adrienne, my plans, she asked why I was coming and couldn’t I just send money to support the organisation. But I had to see this for myself and take photos for Gilmar, so he’s here in spirit.”
This month marks a year since her kidney transplant and, unusually, she has travelled with the blessing of her donor’s family.
“I sent the woman’s family a sympathy card, at the time, put my name and address on it and left it up to them but they contacted me and I actually attended the woman’s memorial service. Since then, the family have maintained contact and they wished me well on this trip.”
Right now, Darline is ‘doing fine’.
“My spirit’s right, my attitude’s right and I knew I was going to do a World Cup in my lifetime and here I am!”
Image: Angelica Ibarra Rodriquez
Prior to getting sick Darline had a ‘peaceful bucket list’ to help the homeless, excel at her job and raise her daughter. These days the list has turned turbocharged.
“I want to get the US regulations lifted to allow small houses to be built for the homeless. My boss is also supporting me on this and when I get home, we’re going to California together. They have all the regs in place there to build, so we need to get it moving across the country, to Gaithersburg MD and beyond!
“People need food, homes and good mental health. I know. I’ve been through a lot, but it gives me a unique perspective. I understand how disadvantaged people live – that was my childhood – and how the fortunate live – that was my adult life. I can feel it all, without judgement.”
A life that’s taken her to the touchline of a soggy pitch on an unseasonably showery day in Korea, a country where, until a few minutes ago, she didn’t know a soul. One who has walked her way through the city as she ‘hasn’t got the hang of the metro yet’, who is flying off on a day trip to Japan tomorrow and has just received the inaugural Seoul Whistle of Hope. That laugh again.
“There was no one here when I arrived so I just decided to stand in the middle of the arena, and then referees began to gather. They asked me if I was part of their group, and I explained why I was here. After I told them my story they gave me the first Whistle of Hope of the tournament.
“I’m just learning the history behind it and I’m so honoured. All these players, who have come here with all their stories, and I’ve been blessed in this way.”
Blessed is a word used a lot when listening to Darline.
“Even though I’m end-stage renal failure now, I’m maxxing out life. When I stand before God I want to be able to say, ‘I did this with the life I was given’.”
Amen to that, Darline. Amen.
Homeless World Cup referee Hary Milas started the Whistle of Hope - giving it to people at the Homeless World Cup for acts of kindness, sportsmanship and fair play - all key elements which are fundamental to the spirit of the Homeless World Cup. Following Hary’s sad death in 2021, the Homeless World Cup family continued to award the Whistle of Hope to keep Hary’s spirit alive.
Words: Isobel Irvine