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The beautiful game

February 01 2023
Emdad (left) with Hodzic (centre left) and Skribo (centre right) © Emdad Rahman Emdad (left) with Hodzic (centre left) and Skribo (centre right) © Emdad Rahman

Our reporter travels to Bosnia to speak to players from the country’s Homeless World Cup team. The tournament offered opportunity and enjoyment for players, writes Emdad Rahman

Football is a global game and one of the greatest methods at our disposal to bring about positive change, in my opinion. In both personal and professional aspects of our lives.

Alen Hodzic played at the 2014 Homeless World Cup. The 34-year-old was spotted by the eagle-eyed Elmedin Skribo, deputy director of Emmaus Bosnia and Bosnia homeless team manager, during a visit to a homeless camp in Tuzla.

Skribo also recognised in Hodzic a greater potential to rise up and serve those in need.

Hodzic’s late father was killed in 1992 during the Yugoslav War. He was only three-years-old and has no recollections or memories. “I have only good stories told by some people about my father and I cherish them all,” he said.

Hodzic experienced great challenges in his life, including homelessness. It is an experience he would not wish upon his enemy.

Under Skribo, Hodzic became a member of the Bosnia Homeless World Cup team which travelled to Chile in 2014 and finished in second place to the host nation.

The Homeless World Cup was a game changer. Hodzic says “it was a great chance for people, to feel valued and accepted and see the world. We would never have had a chance otherwise.

“At the World Cup we escaped from our daily problems. It was therapeutic and helped us cope and grow.”

Referring to the influence of his manager Skribo, Hodzic said, “he helped me escape homelessness by being a mentor and coach. It doesn’t matter what time, he is always available and has always been there.

“Elmedin is a great and helpful man, always obsessed with helping people move forward. A superb coach, but more importantly, a just and kind man.”

The experience at the World Cup bought about great change in the life of Hodzic. It provided visibility, a profile, value and recognition. He singles it out as the biggest moment of his life. “The World Cup changed my life on all fronts. It also restored my pride and self esteem.”

Now Hodzic is married and has a young child named Ahmed. He has stability and works in a humanitarian role with Emmaus, as a project co-ordinator, networking with international organisations, building links and finding common ways of working to support people.

“It is important to support homeless people,” he says. “Most people think if you give money then that’s it. You need to give time. Emmaus helped me and now I’m trying to help other people.”

When visiting Hodzic, I met a second homeless footballer from whom I gained great insight.

The Bosnian footballer Asmir Mehic was aged two when his terrified family escaped Konjic, near Srebrenica, where Bosnian Serb forces under Ratko Mladić massacred more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslim people in the summer of 1995.

His father stayed in Srebrenica to fight for the resistance and was killed in combat. Asmir could barely walk and his petrified Mother held him in her arms as she took refuge in the Bosniak city of Tuzla.

They were placed in a support centre for people who had escaped and been displaced due to the genocide that was taking place.

Whilst travelling in Bosnia I was able to visit the centre and take a look at how people like Asmir were being supported. It is a humble set up but homeless guests receive necessary support.

“The homeless hostel gave us stability and a chance to deal with our horrors,” he said.

Asmir and his mother remained homeless for many years and he cites his engagement at the 2016 Homeless World Cup as a big moment.

He added, “I was able to meet new people and make new friends through Emmaus and I no longer felt alone, unsupported and stranded.”

Asmir is now building his own home with the support of his friends, who provide manual and financial assistance.

Football has been a catalyst for great change for many people from homeless and disadvantaged backgrounds. Despite horrific experiences and harrowing circumstances, so many have proved inspirational in turning their lives around and finding new beginnings in life.

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December 2024 – January 2025 : Solidarity

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