Alice Springs man to play in Norway's Homeless World Cup soccer tournament

Australia Broadcast Center

20 hours ago

A young man from Alice Springs who has experienced homelessness for most of his life is travelling to Norway to represent Australia in a week-long street soccer tournament.
About 450 men and women from 40 countries are coming together for the 20th anniversary of the Homeless World Cup in Oslo next week to raise awareness and challenge attitudes about homelessness.
Eighteen-year-old Lesley Thompson moved from Tennant Creek to Alice Springs when he was about six years old and said he would often walk the streets or stay with family members because it was not safe for him to sleep at home.
"Sometimes I'd go walk along in the middle of the night to my other family camp. They live far away outside the town.
"I'd walk all the way there, sleep there for one night, and I'd go back to my other camp where I live."
Mr Thompson still moves between different family members' houses, yards and mattresses and has no permanent address.
According to NT Shelter, the territory has 12 times the national average rate of homelessness, with 6 per cent of all people in the NT experiencing homelessness.
Mr Thompson is one of more than 2,000 people experiencing homelessness in the Northern Territory on any given day.
He said it was hard to survive.
"Sometimes you got to sleep outside with maybe one blanket or two, or maybe with no mattress," he said.
"Sometimes you have to look for your family, so you can ask them to give you money to buy food, but sometimes they say nothing."
In the NT, 20 per cent of Aboriginal people are experiencing homelessness, and family and domestic violence is one of the top reasons people seek support from homelessness services.
Mr Thompson said he first started playing soccer at 10 years old at the Gap Youth Centre in Alice Springs.
That was where he said he was approached to play in the Homeless World Cup.
"I was playing and this guy walked up to me … he said, 'Hey, you want to play soccer for overseas? Show yourself, play for Australia?" he said.
"He showed me a map and a video of people playing, showed me what the different places look like."
Co-founder of the Big Issue Street Soccer Program and the Australian "Street Socceroos" coach, George Halkias, said the tournament was "the opportunity of a lifetime".
"It's a very special and unique sporting [event] … it celebrates the power of people to overcome adversity and show what they can do when they're given an opportunity," he said.
"It's very special for the players who represent their country because obviously they've had a journey and a few different challenges and life experiences.
"[Players can] learn new lessons, build new skills and just develop that self confidence … all these experiences help them grow and develop, and people like Lesley become great role models and inspire their peers and other people in their local communities."
Mr Halkias said the host cities and countries created a respectful atmosphere to allow people to learn about mental illness, substance abuse, disability and long-term unemployment.
Mr Thompson said after the tournament, he wanted to become a ranger in central Australia.
"I like staying out bush much better than being in town … I like nature and taking care of animals," he said.
Though finding secure housing would likely continue to be a challenge for Mr Thompson, he said he dreamed of one day owning a home of his own.
"And I don't want my family to fight there," he said.
"When they drink I need them to go sleep somewhere else, I don't want them to make no mess in my house or fight … I want to live peacefully."
Mr Thompson had a message for other people experiencing homelessness.
"Don't give up for your life," he said.
"Do something with your life and by doing something you'll get somewhere.
"Stop going in circle, just go forward."
Mr Thompson wanted to "help other families to stop drinking and fighting".
"Our people do not need to do that," he said.