“I have started a new life, and everything is getting better”
|Patryk represented Poland at the Wroclaw Cup in July 2022. Image: HWC/Rebecca Corbett
“Life without drugs is good”
Patryk Białek represented Poland for the first time at the Wrocław Cup in July 2022.
22-year-old Patryk returned to Poland from the UK in early 2021 to start therapy, he’d been living in Milton Keynes in England when he became addicted to drugs. Then he became homeless.
“When I was addicted to drugs my whole body was shaking, I didn’t know what was going on. I didn’t know life without drugs. Almost every day I was taking drugs, I couldn’t live without drugs.
“I was 18-19 the first time, I was homeless for one month – then I started a new life. I had a house, I had a job, and then again, I became homeless three more times.
“The last time I was homeless was two years ago (in 2019), for six months I didn’t have anything – I didn’t have a house, didn’t have friends, I was without family. Without everything.”
While he was homeless for the third time and living under bridges and on benches across the city, Patryk was introduced to an organisation called Barka.
They work with migrants from Central and Eastern European countries and help them to access support in their country of origin.
Patryk decided it was the best option to return to Poland, despite his family continuing to live in England. Patryk moved with his mum to Milton Keynes in 2011 to join the rest of his extended family.
“[Barka] bought me a ticket to Poland, one night in a hotel and then I came here. They took me from the aeroplane, and I went to therapy.”
Arriving at therapy Patryk didn’t know what to expect.
“There was a lot of stress, it was my first therapy – so I didn’t know what it’s actually like in therapy. I was a quiet person, I wasn’t talking to anyone, I was sitting on my own. But every week it was getting better and better. Now I am here. I am happy to be here.”
During therapy, Patryk was introduced to Stowarzyszenie Reprezentacja Polski Bezdomnych (Polish Homeless National Streetsoccer Team Association).
Patryk has been without drugs since April 2021 and is proud to represent Poland at the Wrocław Cup.
“I have played football all my life, I have been in a lot of tournaments, but this is different. I’m happy, very happy. When I am on the pitch, I am a different person, I am very quiet.
“It’s good being part of the team – we don’t even have to talk because we understand each other. We look at each other and we know what we’re doing. We are a good team.
“When I was taking drugs, it was giving me energy to live. It’s stupid – but now for 15 months I am without drugs, and I can feel the difference.
“I couldn’t imagine doing this, I didn’t even believe that I wasn’t going to take drugs – I thought I was going to take drugs all my life.
“Even my family are happy – earlier I didn’t talk with them, and they didn’t talk to me. My mum she texted me – she is waiting for me.
“[At 18-19] my dream was to play for Poland, and I am doing that now. I am going to go forward with that, after therapy I want to keep playing for Poland. I have six weeks left in therapy then I will stay in a hostel and have a job there. I want to save some money and start a new life.
“All my life was hard, but I have started a new life, and everything is getting better.
“Life without drugs is good.”
Find out more about Polish partner Stowarzyszenie Reprezentacja Polski Bezdomnych (Polish Homeless National Street soccer Team Association)
Words: Rebecca Corbett
*Some quotes have been edited for clarity