The staff and players are preparing for Rio. I'd like to introduce them.
THE STAFF:
Here are Huli, Maukka and Timo. Huli is the man who works with the Homeless Academy and is the one who keeps all the players involved in the program. He also played for Team Finland at the Homeless World Cup in South Africa. Maukka is from the Finnish Football Federation and also works with sports programs for the minority community. Timo, the retired Finnish Federation coach, is now coaching his third Homeless World Cup team from Finland.
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| Huli |
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| Maukka |
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| Timo |
THE PLAYERS:
Meet Tyko. He is new to the game, starting to play only three years ago with the Homeless Academy team. He has worked very hard in practice and in the exercise sessions to be included in Team Rio. Tyko is an outdoors man who loves fishing and swimming and sauna and swimming in the ice water after sauna!
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| Tyko |
Tampere sends us another player for Team Finland. Please meet Hans. He is a 24 year old player who enjoys practicing and hopefully will find the back of the net with his hard shot. Hans has played with the B juniors of TPV. One of the staff told me that Hans is a "velikulta". Best I can figure it means that while we are in Brazil we will need to be ready for a few practical jokes from Hans, who certainly gives the appearance of being the quiet one.
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| Hans |
Jaakko is from Tampere. This 30 year old is everyone's friend. He is a left footed soccer player with a hard shot who earlier was part of the TPV junior program. He has an easy personality. Jaakko enjoys practicing and is getting ready for the trip to the HWC in Brazil.
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| Jaakko |
The goalkeeper is next. Please meet Jani. He is from Tampere and makes the trek to Helsinki to practice with Team Finland. The alumni goalie, Jari, works with him at practice making sure he maintains the intensity, strength and agility to be a goalkeeper in the fast paced streetsoccer game. Living a clean life helps him play hard for Team Finland.
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| Jani |
Ville is next for you to meet. He is a former hockey player, who has also tried a few rounds in the boxing ring. Now he is part of the HWC Team Finland. One of his hobbies is doing improvisational theater. He has already demonstrated that he will overcome obstacles to succeed. At a recent practice he had an injury that kept him from running so he volunteered to play in goal so that he could be part of the practice. He'll be ready for the HWC in Rio!
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| Ville |
Please meet Micke. Micke has joined his brother in using football to change the direction of his life. He played football for 15 years but stopped because of drugs and now it is his passage to living happy today and tomorrow. (Micke's words) He has challenged himself to prepare for the HWC in Rio, participating in the weekly strenuous exercise routine. He has used these exercises to improve the use of his arm that was severely injured in a train accident. He is training hard to maintain his new life and to be able to participate in the Homeless World Cup in Brazil.
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| Micke |
Introducing Kenneth. When I saw him last year beginning his training I noticed how intense he was. It has paid off for him. When there are practices for the team, Kenneth directs the warmup exercises. When his teammates are learning new routines with the kettle bells, Kenneth shows them the routine. Kenneth is focused on making the most of his new life, and is certainly looking forward to Rio.
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| Kenneth |
Please meet Patrick. He has been training very hard for the trip to Rio. You should see him exercise with the Kettle Bells. He gives excellent effort when exercising and when training, and having lost one arm does not keep him from any of the team training and exercise. Patrick lives in Helsinki and spends some of his time speaking to groups about drug addiction.
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| Patrick |
