Celloane's Story
Celloane, from Lesotho, lost her mother to AIDS in 2004. No longer able to afford school fees she resisted prostitution and sold vegetables on the streets to help feed her family. There was very little to look forward to, but her love of sport saw Celloane enrol on a Kick4Life football course that would change life her forever.
DeAndre's Story
DeAndre grew up in a rough part of Jonesboro, a small southern town in the United States. When he first arrived for an after-school football session nine years ago he suffered from chronic disciplinary problems, had issues with authority and was already on the road to a life of crime and disappointment.
Delaram's Story
Delaram, an Afghan refugee in Iran, lost her father when she was just 14 and was forced to enter an arranged marriage to a man more than 40 years old. Pressure began to mount from the Iranian government. They wanted all Afghans to leave, but a new war was raging in her homeland between the Taliban and forces from the West.
Dennis' Story
Dennis loved football and played in the dusty fields near his home with a makeshift ball. He was talented, but his parents were concerned. Primary school is free in Uganda, but secondary education is only available to those who can pay. What future did their son have if he spent every second kicking a football?
Heang's Story
Among thousands of people fleeing war in Cambodia, was Ly Heang, a baby strapped to his mother’s back as the family made the treacherous journey through a terrain littered with landmines. Years later unemployed Heang had a chance encounter with a football coach that would turn his life around.
Jainer's Story
Jainer was born into an impoverished Colombian family, his father an alcoholic and gambling addict, his mother leaving home when he was still young. When he was just 11 Jainer joined a gang and he soon became embroiled in organized crime and violence. Could anything break his downward spiral?
Miriam's Story
Miriam’s father rented space for his craft shop from a Palestinian owner, but when Jewish settlers bought the property he had to leave. He lost his livelihood and Miriam began to hold extremist views. Her mother was worried that Miriam would do something crazy, something that would lead to losing her daughter.
Nouhoum's Story
One afternoon in his Malian village Nouhoum complained to his mother of a terrible headache. By nightfall he was lying semi-conscious in the throes of meningitis. Left deaf by the illness Nouhoum led an isolated life until a chance to attend school gave him the opportunity to escape the shackles of his disability.
Parvati's Story
Forced by poverty to leave their village, Parvati’s parents had to accept the low wages and dangerous conditions of construction work in Mumbai. Parvati and her two younger sisters grew up on the various building sites where their parents found work, playing games amongst the rubble and rocks that surrounded them.
Tarpe's Story
Tarpe lived in a nice neighbourhood but behind the pleasant façade of suburban England she was subjected to abuse. Many years later she found herself addicted to hard drugs and living in sheltered housing. It was here that she saw a poster offering the chance to play football again, the game she had always loved.
Titie's Story
Raised in a rundown community in South Africa, Titie dreamed of being a star football player. But as a child she was often hungry and some of her friends turned to prostitution and armed robbery to escape their poverty. Was Titie's love of the game enough to help her achieve her dreams?
A message from the coach: Fabio Capello
I have been involved in football for more than 40 years, playing with and coaching some of the finest players and clubs in the world. It is a wonderful sport that brings great joy and entertainment to so many people.
Football also has a wider, very important role to play in addressing issues that affect some of the most disadvantaged people in the world, who are often the game’s greatest supporters. In 2008 I was fortunate to be part of an English Football Association visit to Lesotho in southern Africa, which has one of the highest incidences of HIV in the world. Here I attended an event run by Kick4Life, a charity that is using football to promote healthy living, to break down stigma surrounding the disease and to encourage people to be tested and know their status.
It turned out to be a memorable and emotional day as I witnessed a real passion for the game among the children, as well as being present while a young boy was tested for HIV. Sitting in a testing tent, waiting for his result was one of the most difficult moments of my career, and I was of course delighted when it came out negative. Other children that day were not so fortunate, but it is reassuring to know they have now been referred to medical treatment that will enable them to live longer and happier lives.
It is also very encouraging to see in this book that Kick4Life is just one of many organisations around that world that are doing an excellent job in using football to tackle challenging social problems. I am delighted to add my support to their continued success.
Fabio Capello
