More Than A Film: Team Austria - Markus Komurka
|Marcus Komurka (right) with teammate Serkan during a break in filming in Rome. Image: Rebecca Corbett
More than a Film: This series explores the real players and management teams at the heart of The Homeless World Cup, the tournament is the inspiration for the feature film, The Beautiful Game. Markus Komurka was part of Team Austria in the film.
“The Homeless World Cup was a new start for my life”
2016 was a significant year for Markus; it was the year he played for Austria at the Homeless World Cup in Glasgow. It was also the year he told his family that he’d been homeless.
When he became homeless, it wasn’t only his home he lost – he also became increasingly isolated as he kept it secret from those he knew and loved.
“You have no friends, no family – I wasn’t speaking to my family. I didn’t tell my parents I was homeless; it was too difficult. None of my family knew.”
At the Homeless World Cup, while he was surrounded by people who had been in a similar situation, the shame started to melt away. Instead, he started to feel a sense of pride for being there representing his country.
Markus explains, “The Homeless World Cup was a new start for my life. It helped me with my family. I can speak with my brother, mother, sister, and my children.”
The first person he told was his best friend – his brother, then he told his mother. At first it was difficult, but person by person it got better and better. Slowly the weight started to lift; “It is a really good feeling when speaking.”
After returning to Vienna from the Homeless World Cup, Markus stayed involved with the team and trained as a coach and then as a referee.
“I can help children on the street. I am a children’s coach for street soccer, and I can help the children to overcome their difficulties. Now I can live my dream.”
Our partner in Austria is Homeless World Cup Austria, find out more about their work and how they’re supporting people like Markus.
Austria have been a Homeless World Cup member country since the inaugural Homeless World Cup in
Graz in 2003.
Words: Rebecca Corbett