Sydney FC’s Shannon Cole and Juho Makela attended the launch of The Big Issue Street Football Festival today to create awareness of the program’s dedication to social change for homeless, marginalised and disadvantaged Australians through the power of football.
Sydney FC-s Shannon Cole and Juho Makela attended the launch of The Big Issue Street Football Festival today to create awareness of the program-s dedication to social change for homeless, marginalised and disadvantaged Australians through the power of football.
On a purpose-built floating football pitch located in Cockle Bay, Darling Harbour, Cole & Makela participated in a football match with Street Soccer players from the Sydney and Parramatta programs plus former Sydney FC player Nikolai Topor-Stanley and his current Newcastle Jets team-mate Jobe Wheelhouse.
Proceeding today-s launch a nine-day festival, which includes the National Championships of the Community Street Soccer Program, will provide weekly training to homeless and marginalised men and women at 25 sites across the country. The festival will also incorporate a Government Agency Cup, a Corporate Cup and a junior program.
56 players from around Australia have been selected to take part in the National Championships, representing seven teams: VIC metropolitan, VIC regional, NSW, WA, ACT, SA/TAS and QLD.
The National Championships will be held on the final weekend of the festival (June 4-5), with the grand final match played on June 5.
For more information on the Big Issue Street Football Festival click here .