Hong Kong protests prevent Homeless World Cup team fundraiser but players still make it to Cardiff
- City sends underprivileged footballers to play in Wales, making it 15th consecutive year of entry
- Organisers hope to stage charity tournament one day but need a budget of HK$40 million
Hong Kong has sent a football team to a 15th consecutive appearance at the Homeless World Cup, despite a fundraising event being disrupted by the extradition bill protests sweeping the city.
Team organisers Street Soccer Hong Kong hoped to raise HK$250,000 for the trip through the campaign in June but that was scrapped after waves of demonstrations started gripping the city.
“We normally run a two-day tournament before the World Cup to raise travelling expenses for the team,” said Li Tak-nang, vice-chairman of the organisation. “But this year many of our volunteers told us they were occupied by other business during this time and apparently they were taking to the streets to protest.
“As a NGO, our work heavily relies on volunteers and at one point we were in fear of failing to send a team for the first time since 2005.”
The annual football tournament is aimed to highlight the plight of the global homeless. Welsh actor Michael Sheen dipped into his own pocket to bring this year’s Homeless Word Cup to Cardiff.