The team that will represent South Africa at the Homeless World Cup (HWC) was announced at a Cape Town function at the weekend.
Santos stalwart Jean-Marc Ithier will coach the team for the 48-nation event, which will be held at the Grand Parade from September 24 to 30.
Nkosinathi Mkhonono, a former South African player in the HWC and a vendor of event organisers The Big Issue magazine, will assist Ithier.
Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool said the event would blaze the trail for the 2010 World Cup.
"This event... is about people staking their claim for respect and dignity, to prove their worth. It's about people determined to fight the odds."
Scotsman Mel Young, co-founder and president of the HWC, said: "We are honoured to bring the Homeless World Cup to Africa for the first time. The spirit of this country and its people is amazing."
"This event has proved again that sport, in this case football, has the power to create real and lasting change."
Richard Ishmail, managing director of The Big Issue, said the event was as a chance for South African companies to get involved in eradicating poverty.
"The HWC has proved that it can make a difference to the lives of socially marginalised people. It needs the support of everyone concerned with the plight of the homeless," he said.
Former Bafana Bafana stars Lucas Radebe, Mark Fish and Mark Williams, and ex-Banyana Banyana captain Desiree Ellis were at the function and pledged their support for the event, now in its fourth year.
SA squad:
Zuko Buyambo (The Ark), James Steenberg (The Ark), Elvis Mchunu (The Ark), Errol de Villiers (Oasis), Nathan Abels (Oasis), Arthur Adams (Oasis), Xolani Ndamase (Vulindlela House), Daniel Willeman (City Mission), Gerald Bez (The Ark).