Second time lucky for Costa Rica’s Luis
Image: Daniel Lipinski / Soda-Visual
“I imagine that every one, in their own way, has fought to be here”
As the oldest player taking part for Team Costa Rica in Cardiff, Luis Fernando Rodriguez Villegas had to train hard and make many sacrifices to be part of this year’s tournament.
The 41-year-old married father of two from San Jose has been part of his nation’s street soccer set up organised by Asociación Escuchando Gente Sin Hogar for the past two years, having had a past troubled by addiction.
He realises how lucky he has been to have had the opportunity to be here representing his home country at this year’s Homeless World Cup as a reward for his successful rehabilitation.
“Speaking for the group and for myself, I think that it’s been great with the fact that we’ve been part of a process that has culminated in us coming here. And not everyone is given that opportunity to do so.
“That 40 to 50 players are involved and then only eight make it here from Costa Rica. It’s a privilege for each player. To be here and to see so many people, so many different languages and countries, all of whom who seem happy.
“I imagine that every one, in their own way, has fought to be here,” he said.
With a stable home life and work as a driver, Luis has turned his life around for the better with the help of street soccer, and his participation here in Cardiff is one he puts down to being ‘envious’ of seeing friends of his playing at previous tournament having been part of the project.
“I have various friends who have appeared with Costa Rica at previous Homeless World Cups, who I played 11-a-side with before I dedicated myself to playing 5-a-side when I became part of the team myself.
One of my friends who played in Glasgow back in 2015 shared pictures on social media about his time taking part in the tournament and seeing them I realised it was something I wanted to experience. Like they say, it was ‘good envy’ I had,” he said.
Having just failed to make the squad for the 2018 tournament in Mexico (finishing in ninth position with eight picked to go), he was invited back to train by team manager Jose Luis Monge Fernandez, with a view to being part of the team picked for Cardiff.
|Image: Daniel Lipinski / Soda-Visual
And thanks to a lot of dedication and hard work, and his desire to pay back the belief shown in him by the manager, Villegas was.
“Jose Luis Monge Fernandez is like a father to me. He believes in me and has helped me both on and off the field. And he invited me to participate in the selection for last year’s tournament in Mexico, where I just missed out.
“I waved goodbye to the players who made the team for Mexico and I thanked Jose for the opportunity. I was invited to return to join up with them again in January this year but said no due to family commitments that stopped me from continuing.
“After a month and a half, when I was overweight and out of shape physically, I was again offered the chance to join up. And I did, and trained and trained and trained and ended up being chosen for the squad. It was great, especially to be part of a team with players aged 21 and 26 and me being the oldest among them. I was at their level and they respected that,” he said.
Above all, Villegas notes how the discipline required from him within his home street soccer project and one that he has carried over with him—something that helps him off the field too.
“The treatment we have had from others has been spectacular. It has been like I imagined, but has even gone beyond that. It’s been great in every respect with the hospitality and the food.
The hours are very strict also, and that’s something we’ve carried on learning from our time with the street soccer project. This discipline helps us as people not just as players, and it helps us become different people, for the better for society,” he said.
As evidenced by the life-changing participation in the tournament that those before him have had, he is in no doubt as to the effect competing at the Homeless World Cup has on people.
“I’m sure that this experience will help us for the rest of our lives. I see it in terms of those who have already had the experience of playing at the Homeless World Cup who have become better people and who are always looking forward.
“And for those that might read this interview [in Costa Rica], if you want to get ahead in life the Homeless World Cup is one of the best ways you can do that. And Asociación Escuchando Gente Sin Hogar has provided opportunities to a lot of people,” he finished.
Words: Craig Williams
Images: Daniel Lipinski / Soda-Visual