FORT WORTH - A middle class grandmother has taken to the tough streets of Fort Worth in search for a few good homeless men and women for her soccer team.
It just takes four to make a street soccer team, but Karla Gray has found a dozen. Men like Kevin Polk, who has been homeless for two years after having four heart attacks that left him jobless and $200,000 in debt, have signed up.
"There's sometimes you don't want to get out of bed in the morning, just want the world to go away," he said."But, it's not going to."
Those feeling, he said, have changed since he joined the street soccer team.
"I look forward to it," he said. "I just can't wait. If it's raining I'm calling, 'We're still practicing today?'"
That is exactly what Gray hoped would happen through the sport. To be on the team, people have to show up on time and be responsible to teammates.
"It's about helping them to find self esteem - learning responsibility and commitment and trust, which is hard to find on the street," she said.
This team is one of 16 heading to Washington for a national tournament. From there,eight individuals will go on to Milan, Italy for Homeless World Cup in September.Gray said she thinks Polk has a good chance.
But, she said she is just as proud of Tyrone Colbert, who plays soccer in the day time and works at the Presbyterian Night Shelter, which is also his home, at night. Colbert is one of four that have joined the team and started working.
"All these guys need is someone willing to reach out with a hand," Gray said.
