A Scottish national football side reckon they have a good chance of lifting the World Cup in Brazil following a weekend training session in Dundee but it’s not Craig Levein getting ahead of himself about his squad’s chances in 2014.
David Duke, the manager of Scotland’s homeless football side, thinks his players could be able to contend with the best from across the globe when they fly out for the Homeless World Cup on Copacabana beach next month.
Central to those hopes could be Dundee’s own Barry Ritchie, who aims to bang in the goals which will fire Scotland to glory.
He and the rest of the homeless squad held their latest training session at Soccerworld on Dundee’s Old Glamis Road on Saturday.
Barry (19), Dundee’s sole representative in the squad, said the experience of playing with the Scottish homeless side was a “dream” which had changed his life for the better.
He left home aged 16 after beating his mother’s boyfriend with a stick, and being sentenced to 12 days on remand and 120 hours’ community service.
Initially he stayed with friends but recently got a place at a council hostel in the city.
“I can’t wait it’s just changed my life,” said Barry. “It’s helped me keep out of trouble and given me a bit of focus.”
He said the team is bonding well and have high hopes of emulating Scotland’s overall victory at the 2007 competition.
Dundee City Council sports development officer Justin Mulholland said the authority’s Springboard Programme, which runs in partnership with Street Soccer Scotland, used sport to help people boost their confidence and employability.
People who take part in the scheme can gain sporting qualifications as well as extra help to get them into training and work.
He said Barry had already completed Scottish Football Association coaching badges and had an interview for a post as a mechanic.
“I think Barry was surprised and shocked he was going to get an opportunity like this, but he has grabbed hold of it with both hands,” said Mr Mulholland.
“You could see at the Dundee trial, only about 15 minutes in I just got this nod from David that just said ‘We’ll have him.’
“The set-up is really professional and that really boosts their confidence.”
Mr Duke said the players under his watchful eye had a real chance of coming home with some silverware.
“I think they are really good and it’s great experience for the guys as well,” he said.
“They’re looking good in training. But it’s about how they react in Rio in front of thousands of people on the special grandstands that are being built for this.”
The 2010 squad is the first to have included players from beyond the central belt and includes Barry as well as players from Inverness.