“When I win, I feel real joy”
|Cristian Muscalu represented Romania in Fuenlabrada. Image: HWC/Rebecca Corbett
35-year-old Cristian Muscalu represented Romania for the first time at the Homeless World Cup tournament in Fuenlabrada, Spain. He lives in Romania’s capital, Bucharest.
Cristian used to only find a feeling of euphoria and joy when he took heroin, but now he’s finding it on the football pitch.
His experience of drugs started off innocently, largely led by curiosity of what his friends were experiencing; “I just wanted to know what it was like, the people around me always did it so I started to join in.”
“The feeling was euphoric, I felt enthusiastic about life. But then I started to do it more and more and more. Two or three years after I started, I was completely addicted. I was spending all my money on heroin.”
As heroin started to define his life, it made it difficult for Cristian to continue to live with people who weren’t also addicted.
“At first, I was living at home with my family, but then I got kicked out. Then I was living with friends, but then they kicked me out and I was living on the streets.”
Cristian’s physical and mental health started to decline; “I started to feel really bad, my confidence disappeared. I didn’t have any self-respect.”
“I nearly collapsed, whenever I was walking, I was feeling dizzy – I didn’t have any food or anything to eat.”
“That was the point where I thought, right – stop”
“That was the point where I thought, right – stop. Let’s find myself a house, a job and try to have a family. Do something with my life.”
Joining the team and becoming part of Clubul Sportiv Fotbal De Strada Metanoia was a turning point for Cristian; “Playing for Romania is a new start for me, it’s a huge help.”
It also helped him to reconnect with his life before addiction took over.
“Before I started to use heroin, I used to play football a lot. Now I’ve stopped heroin, I’m playing two, three, four times a week.”
“When I win, I feel wonderful, I am enthusiastic and automatically when I win, I feel real joy, not the same as with heroin.”
Now he’s back playing football regularly, Cristian can now look to the future and make plans: “I see myself having a family, finding a home and I hope for the best. I will work hard to accomplish my goals.”
Find out more about Clubul Sportiv Fotbal De Strada Metanoia and their programmes in Romania.
Words/Images: Rebecca Corbett