This website uses cookies for anonymised analytics and for account authentication. See our privacy and cookies policies for more information.





The voice of Scotland’s vibrant voluntary sector

Published by Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

TFN is published by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Mansfield Traquair Centre, 15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6BB. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Registration number SC003558.

She was terrified of telling her family she loved football, then she captained India

This news post is about 9 years old
 

Reena has found a way out of the slum through the football pitch, proving once again that street soccer can transform lives

When she started playing football, Reena was terrified to tell her family. She thought they would be ashamed of her, that football wasn't for girls.

But her love of the game kept her going, until she was chosen by Slum Soccer to play for India in the Homeless World Cup in Amsterdam.

"Football has changed my life," she says.

"Girls from the slums lke me don't have any opportunity.

"I want to go back and create a team of my own. I want to train them and help them play for India too."

Watch Reena's pure joy captaining India at the Homeless World Cup.

https://www.facebook.com/homelessworldcup/videos/10153645165539508/

Sadly for Reena, Mexico won the women's and men's Homeless World Cup trophies this year.

The men's team beat Ukraine in the final 5-2 while the women beat Chile 3-1.

The Homeless World Cup was set up in 2001 in Scotland and still has its headquarters in Edinburgh.

Mexico winning the women's Homeless World Cup trophy.