Adam's new life is a ball

[pies4ever]

Adam's new life is a ball
June 23, 2007

ADAM Smith is spearheading Australia's bid to win the World Cup as the new captain of the Socceroos -- the Street Socceroos, that is.

The Big Issue vendor has just been named skipper of the Aussie team, ready to take on the world next month at the Homeless World Cup in Copenhagen.

And the man abandoned by his mother at three months has earned a nomination for the Pride of Australia medal for courage.

As a child Mr Smith had a learning disorder that left him unable to read or write.

He was a trouble-maker at school -- and was expelled at 13.

Then he started couch-surfing, later sleeping on the streets and in squats.

He has stayed in a sewer, a car park, and under a rail bridge.

He was diagnosed with chronic schizophrenia at 19.

But he said he had "a bit of an epiphany".

"I saw my problems as everyone else's fault," he said.

"Then I realised unless I'm willing to get up and do something for myself the ball is never going to get rolling."

Now he devotes himself to the community and trains as goalkeeper for the Homeless World Cup -- the same tournament Melbourne will host next year at Federation Square.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21951864-2862,00.html

[HAL]

When did he finish?