GRASSROOT SOCCER Zimbabwe will represent the country at this year’s edition of the Street Child World Cup to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from March 27 to April 7 ahead of the Fifa World Cup.
THANDIWE MOYO SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
The team comprising eight girls aged 14-17 is expected to leave the country tomorrow and return on April 9. Grassroot Soccer programmes manager Tanya Sibanda said they were thankful for the support from their partners.
“Grassroot Soccer is fortunate to be in a position to ensure children from Zimbabwe are part of this worthy cause. We are particularly thankful to our partners who have made this possible, especially The Vitol Foundation.
“Grassroot Soccer remains committed to using the power of soccer for social change and to empower young people to take control of their lives”, Sibanda said.
Street Child United (SCU) organises the seven-a-side tournament, which is part of a global campaign to end the systematic and casual abuse of street children.
Grassroot Soccer selected the players from Thuthuka which is a contact centre for children that provides food, shelter, and counselling for any youth in need of their services and John Smale Children’s Home, which is a government rehabilitation home.
Leading to the tournament, SCU is using the publicity surrounding the event to promote and share the stories of street children around the world. The stories are one of the tools SCU will use to promote human rights and end abuse of the millions of children who are forced to live on the street around the world.
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In addition to the tournament, known as “Copa da Rua” in Brazil, the children will also get a chance to visit schools, produce or exchange art, and participate in a conference on the rights of street children around the world.
Zimbabwe will compete against 18 other countries and these are El Salvador, United States, Argentina, England, Nicaragua, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Brazil, Mauritius and the Philippines.
African countries include South Africa, Mozambique, Burundi, Egypt, Liberia, Egypt, Kenya and Tanzania.
