Spirit And Solidarity

Nacho Spinola & Beatrice Thirkettle, Mexico

Goal Click teamed up with the Homeless World Cup to tell the story of the 16th edition of the 2018 Homeless World Cup in Mexico City - through the eyes of the participating players, coaches, and volunteers. More than 450 players representing over 42 countries travelled to Mexico to play in the tournament.

Nacho Spinola and Beatrice Thirkettle are members of the Homeless World Cup organising team. Nacho has been the Homeless World Cup's filmmaker for the last 4 years. Beatrice was a volunteer during the Homeless World Cup and has previously volunteered at the Blind European Championships, National Futsal Cups and the Homeless World Cup since 2016. She is Chair of the Football Vs Homophobia Youth Panel and works for the Hertfordshire Football Association in the UK to increase football participation across all areas of football.

Beatrice Thirkettle

Who is in the photos? Where were the photos taken?

The photos show people who I saw every day and looked after to ensure they had a good tournament experience. I wanted to offer a blend of those people I worked with throughout the tournament - from players, to fellow volunteers, coaches and even the mascots! 

What did you try to show with the photos? Was there any wider meaning with the photos?

I wanted to show my week as a volunteer. I was in the Sports Team, so was either a pitch manager or running results from each pitch. My view of the tournament was very different in the sports team to being a team guide. I was purely based at the Zocalo and saw glimpses of the matches from behind the teams. I witnessed plenty of emotions from there. In some of the photos I wanted to show the expressions of players, coaches and referees. Sometimes happy, excited, tense, frustrated, anxious. There was a lot of camaraderie that I wanted to show, between the players in each team, as well as between the teams themselves. This is the part of the tournament that draws me in the most.

What is your favourite photo?

There is a photo that clearly shows the joy of a team who have just won. Scotland had been in an important match and their goalkeeper had played outstandingly. She was a Mexican reserve player and had to fill in for Scotland at late notice, as they had lost their keeper to injury. She had never played with the Scottish team until she had to go out on the pitch and I don’t believe she spoke any English. But the Scottish players treated her like any other player. When they won, they ran over to her to include her in their celebrations. I am sure the player would have had a week she couldn’t forget and it demonstrates how football can be played by anyone, no matter the challenges of communication.

The Zimbabwe coach had a smile on her face the whole week. She had a wonderful positive atmosphere about her and the players were clearly enjoying their time in Mexico. I learned she had wanted to start coaching, even though it was rare for a woman to coach. I spoke to her about her work and she was so excited about the position she held as coach, to inspire and support other people. 

Why is the Homeless World Cup so important off the pitch?

One of my photos came from a Human Trafficking Workshop. I felt it was important to highlight that this tournament is not just about football on the pitch. All of these players have their own stories, but there are also wider issues we all need to be aware of and understand. Trafficking affects people in every country, so it was great to have an opportunity at the tournament to learn more about it.

Nacho Spinola

What did you try to show with the photos? Was there any wider meaning with the photos?

The photos were taken in Zocalo Square in Mexico. I was trying to capture the ambience and the teams behind the tournament, all these people who work very hard every single day. That's the spirit of the tournament for me.

As every year, the South African team brings joy to the Homeless World Cup tournament. With their songs and dances they unite all the spectators in a spirit of brotherhood and solidarity.

It was a great day for Mexican people because both of their teams, women and men, were in the final. They didn't stop cheering until the very last second of the matches.