SAMH Blog

SAMH member Iain McGill provides his last blog on the Homeless World Cup, looking back on a fantastic tournament that SAMH was proud to be involved in.

“Well, they´re dancing on the street of Brasil tonight – a Brasilian double as my prediction of a Chile win in the Homeless World Cup final shows exactly what I know about the game!

Brasil won empahtically, and deservedly. Their women were ran closer but still nudged in ahead of Mexico in the women’s final, and the partying really kicked off when the men made it a double for the home nation.

Seats in the packed stands were at a premium, and it was good to see Scotland there early with Ireland to secure prime spots for the big finals – with them not having a game today they could have fallen for any of Rio’s distractions, but had no intention of doing anything but supporting the other teams in the finals!

We got it all over with just in time – the heavens opened just after the finals and the awards ceremony had to be moved indoors! When it rains in Rio, it really rains!

The boys fly home tomorrow. I´m looking forward to following the progress in their lives as the impact of the tournament hopefully becomes clear – they are a great bunch, and have been great ambassadors for Scotland.

SAMH and The Harmony Employment Agency can fight it out next year to be the team’s sponsors – I reckon it´s well worthwhile, and will use my last sentance of my last blogpost to sign off with a big thank you to SAMH for the support they provided – making it possible for the guys to get the opportunity to get involved, and see the positive power that sport has to make a difference in folk’s lives!

Over and out – I’m off for a week’s holiday now!”

As Scotland continue their unbeaten run at the Homeless World Cup, SAMH member Iain McGill continues his blog direct from Brazil, where is refereeing at the tournament.

“Day two is over – and Scotland are still undefeated! A referee is supposed to remain neutral, but there is a very good reason that we are not allowed to referee at our own country’s games – I might be a little biased!

It seems that SAMH’s sponsorship of the team is proving lucky – they had two good wins today, in dramatic games! The game with Namibia featured no less than six penalties. Scotland were awarded four, and scored 100% – but in their second game today they were awarded one and missed 100%!

Scotland tried badly to throw the second game away, not just missing a penalty, but having two players sinbinned! They held out in the end, and hopefully learned some lessons!

Scotland, England, Ireland, Kenya, Brasil, Poland & Palestine still are looking impressive as the men’s tournament progresses, as are Mexico, who along with Brasil are the early favourites in the women’s tournament racking up win after win. The Mexican story shows some of the big differences between various countries.

I helped, in a small way, the Scotland manager Davie Duke to run Street Soccer Scotland with the trials/selection process in Scotland. We were really thorough and professional, with trials in Inverness, Dundee, Glasgow and Edinburgh – right across our great country. Lots of SAMH services helped and we ended up with a team full of great guys with bags of talent and potential.

Mexico ran trials in 32 cities across Mexico! No wonder they are looking so good! Scotland doesn´t have close to 32 cities!

Mexico’s fans are still the noisiest – so far. But the crowd’s favourites seem to come from South Korea . They are 500-1 shots to win the big trophy, but have a couple of cult heroes – especially the goalkeeper! A real character, and no spring chicken!

The main danger today was sunburn. Being a Scot I am a lovely shade of beetroot, despite copious amounts of factor 30. Just added that to make you all jealous back home!”

As you’ll know if you’ve been keeping an eye on the SAMH website, we are proudly supporting the Scottish team at the Homeless World Cup in Brazil. SAMH member and director of Harmony Employment Iain McGill is a referee at the tournament, and he’s kindly agreed to provide regular updates from Rio, exclusively for the SAMH blog. Here’s his first dispatch, following Scotland’s 9-7 victory over Hungary.

“I got involved with the Homeless World Cup five years ago when it was held in Edinburgh. My background working in International Aid & homeless projects around Scotland allied to my newly aquired referee’s badge made me a natural to get one of the refereeing gigs – and I feel very lucky that five years later it has taken me to Rio to referee!

I have been helping the Scotland team this year at some of their training camps. It´s been great seeing them progress and see them get more and more excited as the events progress. Getting selected for the squad – getting their SAMH branded kit – their faces in the newspaper – seeing the Copacabana for the first time – and today, winning their opening match!

If I thought I was anywere exotic the Scottish team are keeping me grounded – I was walking along the Copacabana beach on Friday, hoping to see the sights, some Brazilian culture, but all I found were the Scottish team, milk bottle white, SAMH branded tops cast aside on the sand, playing head tennis and talking just like any old team back home!

Today I had the pleasure of refereeing the match between Ghana & Kenya – in Rio! Heady, exotic stuff – except for the fact that Scotland were playing on the next pitch – all I could hear were Scottish accents shouting from the next pitch!

Seriously, really pleased Scotland won today – a tight game, they almost threw it away. England & Ireland won as well; the home nations doing well.

Mexico are the most colourful supporters though – noisy & sporting wrestling matches, they have made an impression! Their teams (they have teams in the men’s & women’s competition) are both loking very strong.

They will give Scotland a run for their money, as will Palestine & Kenya. It´s one of the great things about the tournament – Scotland, Palestine & Mexico have a good chance of actually winning – unlike the big World Cup – Scotland & Palestine for example would just be happy to qualify!”