Monday - Match 1

South Africa 0 India 4

It’s the end of the opening match, and India have emerged worthy winners by 4 – 0, after the forty-minute seven a side match, in which the team must include one female player at all times.

It was a red-blooded affair, with Norman Hunter-esque tackles seeing three players sent to the sinbin by the referee (all of whom are from the South African Premier League) for a five minute penalty.

A decent game by the South African goalkeeper kept the score down, but the skillful white-shirted Indian team were just too powerful for the South Africans.

A poor start for the hosts, but a welcome three points for one of the new powerhouses of street child football.

Next up this afternoon – the UK against the Philippines, and the team from Project 13 in Manchester look the part in suitably red tops. The Philippines players look tiny in comparison, but maybe deft skills on the ground will win the day for them.