The Norwegian player who eats, sleeps and dreams football
|We spoke to Tobias after a training session with Gatefotbal in Oslo.
“I’ve played football for 22 years; I can’t really stop – it’s part of who I am. I love to do it. If I stop, I’ll have dreams about playing.”
Tobias Novsjø is one of the players who is hoping he might be selected to represent the Norwegian side at this year’s Homeless World Cup, which will return to Oslo from 23rd – 30th August for the 20th edition of the tournament.
“[The Homeless World Cup] – it’s such a cool thing – such a cool event – it connects people from around the world through their love for football – it’s amazing.”
After moving to the capital in 2018, Tobias struggled to find a football club. Speaking to his family, his uncle had always been involved with Frelsesarmeen (Salvation Army) in Tønsberg where he grew up and suggested he went along to one of their football practices.
“He put me in touch with some people and four to five years ago, I came to my first practice, and I guess the rest is history!”
As a teenager, Tobias was close to realising his dream of becoming a professional footballer, but as is the case for so many, he was so near, but despite his clear natural ability and talent, the dream failed to become a reality.
Affected by ongoing struggles with his mental health, his lifelong dream started to fade. But football is part of his DNA, and he can’t imagine life without it, so now he regularly plays with the Gatefotbal programme, training multiple times a week and maintaining a weekly fitness programme that would rival any professional.
|Norway will be at the Homeless World Cup for the 20th time when the tournament returns to Oslo in August 2025. Image: Anita Milas
“I have struggled mentally, I have struggled with depression and anxiety for seven years – which is why this is such a great opportunity to be able to come here – there’s a low barrier of entry so anyone can come and no one judges you – everyone has different backgrounds and it was perfect for me, and still is, because the mental stuff, you don’t ever really get rid of it, you learn to live with it.”
Despite his love for the beautiful game, Tobias explains that his relationship with football is complicated, as he puts such high expectations on his ability and can struggle to meet his own high standards.
“Football both helps and hinders – it all depends on how I do – it’s supposed to be a good thing and it is a good thing if I allow it to be. When I have these guys around me that I know then that makes it easy for me.”
“I have such high expectations of myself – the amount of time I’ve put into training, considering the talent I had – I mean, I still have – but I’m older, so I expect a certain level of performance and I’m usually way too hard on myself. That’s the issue, but football helps me. I feel a sense of accomplishment [when I play] and that’s the best thing I get from football.”
He explains, at training he’s fine – but during a game, he finds he freezes.
“I have a mental block with games when there’s stakes – I’ll get very annoyed at myself if I don’t perform at the level I’m expecting. I’ve very harsh on myself that way.”
|The Homeless World Cup was held in Oslo in 2017. Image: Daniel Lipinski
While he’s not at the football pitch, or in the gym, Tobias is studying psychology or working in his part time job supporting children with disabilities. He explains while the studying can be dry, it’s helped him to understand his own experience and reflect on his own mental health.
“It’s very interesting to understand how we work, and why we do what we do. I’ve definitely used my experience in assessments and essays but I feel like a lot of the stuff I know because I’ve been fighting this mental health thing for seven years.”
As part of a psychology project, Tobias was admitted to an institution for two weeks, which he explains taught him more than any book ever could about himself and his mental health.
“I got to go for free and I learnt a lot, that’s a place I’d recommend for everyone. I took a lot of good things from there, I don’t think I’d be as healthy as I am today if it wasn’t for that place and I learned a lot and I think I’m able to come here and study and work because I learned about what I’m struggling with and about myself, because you don’t get rid of it, you learn to live with it.”
Looking to the future for Tobias, he’s aiming to finish his degree, and then after that the possibilities are endless – but one thing is certain, football, will continue to be at the heart of both his dreams and his reality.
For now, we’ll have to wait and see if we see him take on the world in Oslo in August, and even if he’s not on the pitch this time, he’ll be there – supporting his team and sharing his love of football with the world.
Norway is one of 70 Homeless World Cup member countries; Norway is represented by Frelsesarmeen (The Salvation Army). Frelsesarmeen are co-hosting the 20th edition of the Homeless World Cup which will return to Oslo from 23rd – 30th August 2025. The Homeless World Cup also took place in Oslo in 2017.