MILAN, Italy, will host enterprising teams from Nigeria, Brazil, Argentina, England, South Africa, Ghana, Australia and Germany from September 6 to 13 in the battle for the seventh Homeless World Cup title.

The competition, billed for the street soccer stadium at the Arena Civic, Sempione Park, which hosted the historical first game between Italy and France, will welcome an estimated 100,000 strong crowd during the tournament week. Two- time Homeless World Cup champion, Italy, will be aiming to regain its championship glory in front of home crowd, which members of the Homeless World Cup board has described as a uniting force for the hosts.

According to the Founder and President, Homeless World Cup, Mel Young, "the Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup is set in one of the most football passionate cities and nations in the world. This is a phenomenal opportunity for Italy and the City of Milan to unite and show the world the true awesome power of football to change lives, to change the world."

Nigeria's team to the competition will be tutored by Joseph Olamiju, a two-time Homeless World Cup player (Cape Town 2006 and Copenhagen 2007). This is Nigeria's third attempt for the title, having participated in Cape Town, Copenhagen and Melbourne. Olamiju, a 2008 graduate of the National Institute for Sport (NIS), will be assisted by Olumide Ajayi and Ndubuisi Duruna in the technical team.

According to the Executive Director of Search and Groom (official partner and team selector in Nigeria), Yomi Kuku, the organisation is ready to continue to tell the true Nigerian story of commitment, hard work and sincerity in Milan. He revealed that, "Joseph was picked due to his outstanding character, qualification, experience and understanding of the game.

"If for three years running a group of vulnerable young Nigerians from places like Ajegunle, Abesan, Agege, Ikeja, Ibadan and Ikorodu could travel to developed countries and not abscond, it speaks volume of the commitment of young Nigerians to their wellbeing and future."

The Nigerian team is selected by Search and Groom Youth for Development Centre from the annual Street Soccer League Cup. Nigeria played 13 games, with 10 wins and three losses to place 10th in the 56-nation tourney held last December in Melbourne, Australia. The Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup is supported nationally by the Ministry of Youth, City of Milan, Province of Milan, The Lombardy Region, FIGC-Italian Football Federation, Cariplo Foundation, Inter Milan and Gazzetta dello Sport and it is one of the main events of the Milan European Capital of Sport 2009.

International support comes from Nike, UEFA, Vodafone Foundation, United Nations, Global Ambassadors, Eric Cantona and Didier Drogba. Raymond yeboah arksports