Marquez, 33, used to play soccer semi-professionally in a Washington urban league starting at age 14, but fell into homelessness. Now a carpenter, Marquez has been off the streets for a little more than a year, and he largely credits Street Soccer D.C. and its annual 2011 Street Soccer USA National Cup. Nearly 200 youth and adults representing shelters across the country gathered at D.C.’s Washington Kastles Stadium last week for the tournament. Marquez was team captain of the D.C. Knights – one of 22 teams that took part. To be able to participate, players have to either be homeless or have been in the past two years. How has soccer helped you recover?

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