Soccer tournament in GTA brings together players impacted by homelessness, mental health struggles

A Canadian soccer team that brings together people affected by homelessness, mental health struggles and substance abuse will be heading to the Homeless World Cup in August — an experience some players say they never thought would be within reach. 

The Canadian Street Soccer Association (CSSA), founded last year, is sending a team of eight players to Oslo, Norway, where they will compete alongside over 500 players from across the world. 

"We are not looking for the best players in soccer, we are not looking for the best strategists in soccer," said Hossam Khedr, the organization's CEO. 

"What we do is we use soccer as a simple tool to bring people together." 

The Homeless World Cup is an annual tournament that began in 2003, according to its website. It currently has members from 68 countries. 

On Saturday, the CSSA held a national tournament in Mississauga, hosting players from its programs in Toronto, Brampton, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver. 

"For some of these players just traveling from Montreal to come to Mississauga, to be a part of this national tournament, is going to be like their World Cup," said Ed Kiwanuka-Quinlan, CSSA's director of operations, speaking to CBC Radio's Metro Morning on Friday.

The CSSA, which is a non-profit run by volunteers, recruits players through outreach on the streets and by partnering with the Canadian Mental Health Association, which refers them prospective players, he said. 

Kiwanuka-Quinlan called the tournament a celebration of recovery and inclusivity. 

"We encourage [players] not to think about all the other trauma, all the other problems that are happening in their lives, and just to come and kick a ball, have fun and get a sweat on," he said. 

Finding 'another family' through soccer

Among the players at Saturday's tournament was Emma "Zero" Bellante, who will be heading to Oslo in August. She said she has struggled with mental health issues, addiction and being unhoused. 

"This program has really helped me a lot in terms of getting out of the house and not isolating myself," she said. 

Bellante played soccer throughout her childhood but said the sport gradually became less fun and felt like a chore.  

Playing through CSSA is "like a completely different game," she said. 

"There's lots of clapping, encouragement, people cheering each other on," she said. 

Bellante said she never thought she'd have the chance to play in an international soccer tournament. 

"It's an opportunity I would never have passed up, despite the fact that I am very nervous, but it's mixed with excitement," she said. 

Players chosen to go to the Homeless World Cup were selected in part if they are going through a "transitional moment," Khedr said, such as if they are recovering from addiction or mental health struggles. 

The journey to the World Cup will "take them to a different place, and this is when we prepare them for the next step to reenter our society when they come back," he said. 

May Nakintu also joined Saturday's tournament. After she moved from Uganda in January 2024, she saw a poster about the CSSA at the shelter where she was staying in Toronto. 

She said she immediately felt welcomed by the group. 

"I just felt at home. I felt like I had another family," she told Metro Morning. 

Nakintu recently became certified by Canada Soccer as a referee, under encouragement and guidance from Kiwanuka-Quinlan. 

Another player, Cesar Lobos, moved to Canada from Guatemala 41 years ago. After struggles with homelessness and substance abuse, he was initially drawn to the CSSA to get in shape. 

Participating in soccer games "provided me some energy, some encouragement to get out of the street," he said. 

"Now I'm no longer homeless, I have my own apartment, and life is beautiful." 

Lobos, who is heading to Oslo in August, called the trip a "Cinderella dream." It will be the first time he's traveled since he moved to Canada, he said. 

"It takes courage to get out of that circle of life. But then when you are on the right track, the right road… this is like a dream come true," he said.