SACRAMENTO 2023 HOMELESS WORLD CUP: FIFPRO Fair Play Awards (Day 4)
Credit: Dan Higginson
As the sun set and the arena lights at Hornet Stadium flooded the pitches, Team Pakistan stepped up to accept the third FIFPRO Fair Play Award. It was presented by Sacramento Republic FC defender, Johnny Fenwick, who congratulated the team members with handshakes and presented each with a commemorative football trophy.
The accolade came as a result of an incident in Pakistan’s match against Bulgaria when one of the Bulgarian players took a tumble against the barricade and fell outside of the pitch. The Pakistan team immediately stopped play to help the Bulgarian player to his feet, displaying the sportsmanship and respect for which the FIFPRO Fair Play Award was designed.
The Pakistani team is supported by the Physical Education, Development, & Peace [PDP] Foundation, which uses physical education and community mobilisation as a tool for individual development and social change in Pakistan. The Foundation runs 16 sports-based projects, specifically football development programmes, in different regions of Pakistan that work toward goals of democratisation, gender equity and empowerment. In 2015 the Foundation reached a goal of guiding 2000 underprivilged children and, in 2022, also offered assistance to Pakistani people who had become refugees after the floods that affected over one-third of the country that year.
The PDP Foundation spotlights individuals living below the poverty line, with a particular focus on boys living on the street and girls at risk of dropping out of school in urban and rural communities. With an important understanding of a child’s right to play, regular evening football sessions provide participants with coaching and guidance, as well as an opportunity to engage in confidence-building leisure.
Credit: Dan Higginson
The Foundation declares, “It is aptly said that ‘A house is made of bricks and beams. A home is made of love, hopes and dreams.’ Our home is our strength and inspiration.” Team Pakistan brought these values to the HWC Games, without hesitation, and collected a well-deserved award for their outstanding character.
The Fédération Internationale des Associations de Footballeurs Professionnels (International Federation of Footballers), widely known as FIFPRO, is the world’s footballer’s union, representing around 65,000 professional footballers worldwide and the organisation has been a key supporter of the Homeless World Cup Foundation since 2015. FIFPRO sponsor a daily Fair Play Award at the Homeless World Cup each year.
The Homeless World Cup is, of course, a football competition; however, the values and ethos go beyond winning trophies. At its heart the tournament’s goal is to create a global community of players who feel included in society. The daily FIFPRO Fair Play Awards build on these ideals of the tournament. The awards are presented to teams and individuals who have demonstrated the values of fair play, respect and sportsmanship.
Throughout the first four days of the 2023 Homeless World Cup tournament, the Mexico women’s team has demonstrated the fair play values of the Homeless World Cup by respecting their opponents’ skill and abilities. The team has displayed, on multiple occasions, the utmost sportsmanship to encourage a fair competition with other teams.
The Fédération Internationale des Associations de Footballeurs Professionnels (International Federation of Footballers), widely known as FIFPRO, is the world’s footballer’s union, representing around 65,000 professional footballers worldwide and the organisation has been a key supporter of the Homeless World Cup Foundation since 2015. FIFPRO sponsor a daily Fair Play Award at the Homeless World Cup each year.
The Homeless World Cup is, of course, a football competition; however, the values and ethos go beyond winning trophies. At its heart the tournament’s goal is to create a global community of players who feel included in society. The daily FIFPRO Fair Play Awards build on these ideals of the tournament. The awards are presented to teams and individuals who have demonstrated the values of fair play, respect and sportsmanship.
Credit: Dan Higginson
Word by: Alix Gunn & Haley Lucero