Local players from Lotus River and Grassy Park are looking forward to taking part in a groundbreaking new soccer initiative that is set to transform the lives of the homeless when the Rough Sleepers League kicks off on Wednesday 11 November.
Organised by Schaapkraal-based non-profit organisation (NPO) Oasis “Reach For Your Dreams” in partnership with the British Council’s Premier Skills programme, the league uses football as a catalyst for human connection, healing and personal growth, according to Oasis youth leader Lynn Damons.
Oasis uses sport, specifically football and netball, as a vehicle to empower youth and marginalised communities while also offering life skills training, violence prevention programmes and community upliftment initiatives for at-risk youth.
This initiative bridges the gap between sport and social development, targeting residents of local shelters. Along with a competitive soccer tournament, participants will engage in structured self-development training focusing on life skills, mental well-being, communication and leadership.
A pitch for belonging
For the players stepping onto the field, the league represents a rare opportunity to reclaim their identity and dignity.
People’s Post spoke with some of the Oasis players to learn about their journeys and personal challenges leading up to the tournament.
Thurlo Martin and Rezah Hendricks, two local players preparing for the upcoming tournament, view the sport as an entry point to a wider family.
“There is a sense of unity and belonging to a family that most of us have forgotten due to past decisions made,” Martin shared.
“Football is a universal language. It is a means to bring people from different backgrounds together.”
Hendricks echoed these sentiments, highlighting how the pitch acts as a sanctuary from the daily trauma of homelessness.
“It brings unity among people. It teaches discipline and respect, and it brings order,” Hendricks explained.
“When you are feeling down you can always uplift yourself by just kicking a ball with a team.” Both players harbour ambitions of representing South Africa in the future Homeless World Cup (HWC). Beyond athletic milestones, they see the league as a platform to defy expectations, shatter stereotypes, and gain the leadership capacity to give back positively to their original communities.
Football with a purpose
Football coach Gerald Louw outlines a vision that stretches far beyond tactical drills and scoreboards. “The vision behind the Rough Sleepers League is to create a space where people can feel like they belong again. Because many of the participants come from the street, they have lost hope. This league allows them to feel part of a community again while creating alternative opportunities.”
In practice, the off-field training modules are rigorously designed to track long-term personal progression.
Organisers will use pre- and post-training questionnaires to evaluate how effectively the players apply lessons in communication, emotional management and career readiness to their everyday routines. Success is measured by psychological resilience.
A call for community backing
Organisers have issued an urgent appeal to local businesses and the public for operational support. Shelters face massive logistical obstacles and assistance with match-day transport, team soccer kits, and nutritional support is desperately needed to keep players motivated and engaged.
For Louw, the true indicator of victory at the end of the season isn’t found in a display cabinet. “It is about instilling hope in someone again, that they they are part of a structure and family again. It is about making people feel like they matter.”
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