African Soccerscapes by Peter Alegi
“This is an African World Cup, this is a world-class event. There is no contradiction between being African and being world class.” – Danny Jordaan, CEO of the 2010 Local Organizing Committee
The lines above came from the final paragraph of African Soccerscapes: How a Continent Changed the World’s Game by Peter Alegi. The author, like many others, chose to finish with a poignant ending. This shares the enormous expectations for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, an event that could change many things for all Africans.
Alegi, an emerging expert on world soccer, says it best. “South Africa’s hosting of the World Cup represents the latest and most ambitious attempt by an African country to use football to showcase its political achievements, accelerate economic growth, and assert the continent’s global citizenship.” This could prove to be one of the most important events in the history of South Africa and the region as a whole. A successful event could serve as a turning point for the entire area, while any problems will surely considered a setback of epic proportions.
This text is both thorough and entertaining. It helps us understand the historical context of the 2010 World Cup and the development of the African game. It provides this discussion in a very compact way (roughly 130 pages, not including notes and a bibliography) that leads to a quick and easy read.
The reader is not overwhelmed with unnecessary information, but rather is presented with relevent, thought-provoking content. It allows you as the reader to gain a new persective on Africa and its role in the world soccer scene. It covers a variety of topics and time periods, giving you a solid snapshot of each. Alegi takes the reader on an incredible journey from colonialism through modern day successes and failures.
The World Cup is just one piece of the African soccer puzzle. The development of women’s soccer and the youth game is another that will make the continent relevant for years to come. Africa has a great deal of potential in its players and style of play. You see the potential in every corner of the globe. It might be Didier Drogba or Michael Essien playing in the highest level of English football or the dozens of young African players in Major League Soccer. The future is now for Africa and it is incredibly bright.
More than Just a Game by Chuck Korr and Marvin Close
June and July will be a special time for all Africans as the world’s most popular tournament comes to the continent for the first time. It should be a time of reflection for those who made this possible. Thousands struggled against apartheid on the streets of South Africa’s cities and towns. A great deal were unjustly arrested and sent to “hell on earth,” better known as Robben Island.
Many brave men suffered and died at the hands of their warders on this notorious island. Yes, it was a place where dreams were crushed and everyday life was an immense struggle, but it was also a place of affirmation, redemption, and birth for a new nation. What the prisoners failed to realize is that they were practicing to govern out in “the real world”. Those political prisoners that were beaten, tortured, and worked nearly to death would become the leadership of a new South Africa.
More than Just a Game: Soccer vs. Apartheid: The Most Important Soccer Story Ever Told, by Chuck Korr and Marvin Close, represents a true triumph of the human spirit. It is an inspiring story that teaches us about the transformative power of the beautiful game, a game that brought people together in the most horrific of conditions. It will be thoroughly enjoyed by anyone who has been told they can’t do something or that they aren’t good enough. It is a story that has a universal quality that will be enjoyed by the masses.
Soccer has unified rivals, stopped civil wars, and brought enjoyment to billions of people. Yet a story like this has never been told. It is a narrative that is best described in the words of the prisoners:
“Football was a way of testing men’s values.”
“Football gave thousands of prisoners hope, motivation, and a sense of purpose.”
“Robben Island should be seen as a triumph of the human against the forces of evil…a triumph of courage and determination over human frailty and weakness. A triumph of the new South Africa over the old.”
Divisions of organized soccer, run by the Makana Football Association (MFA), would bring pleasure and joy to a place that was founded on torture, fear, and unjust laws. The MFA was an incredible organization, run entirely by prisoners, that created a formal schedule with dozens of fixtures each season. Each and every action of the association was governed by a constitution that brought them into full compliance with FIFA regulations. The matches played on the hallowed grounds around the prison represented some of the best football in the entire country. It wasn’t just the quality of play, but it was the struggle and the passion involved with playing in the first place.
It is an unlikely story of how prisoners challenged their captors and the institution of apartheid that imprisoned them. Justice would eventually be served as apartheid was brought to its knees; it is safe to say that soccer played a small part in that.
Official Documentary Film Website
The Glorious Cup by Alan Black and David Henry Sterry
Sometimes we take ourselves too seriously. It is nice to see a title that reflects common sense and a sense of humor. A true bargain at $12.00, The Glorious World Cup: A Fanatic’s Guide is a change of pace from the rest of the World Cup titles out there.
It is refreshing, something that you would want to keep next to your recliner as you watch the World Cup in all its glory. It is a good fit for hardcore followers and casual fans alike.
It’s a little bit of history, stand-up comedy, and art all wrapped in one. Creative graphics and solid photography add to the mix. Everyone will also enjoy the contributions of Simon Kuper, Po Bronson, and Irvine Welsh. It is a unique book that is both entertaining and informative. It is a great way to prepare for the World Cup in South Africa, looking back at the famous stories and players that have made this epic tournament the pride of billions.
It will certainly give you a new perspective on the World Cup, hopefully one that will provide enjoyment that comes only every four years. This is definitely one that is worth a purchase when it is released on May 4, 2010.
Feet of the Chameleon by Ian Hawkey
Hawkey is one of the world’s premier experts on African football. He should be after living in four African countries and visiting another twenty-four while doing researching for this wonderful title.
Timing is everything in the publishing business. Dozens of World Cup titles will be available in the months leading up to the world’s most famous sporting event. Feet of the Chameleon: The Story of African Football is one of the best. It is a must read for anyone interested in African football or this year’s World Cup, the first on the African continent.
This text accurately captures the spirit and mystery of Africa’s beautiful game. The World Cup in South Africa has created a flurry of interest about the continent’s footballing history. This title is the answer to all of your questions. It is incredibly comprehensive and insightful, covering everything from politics to economics.
The colorful title comes from famous broadcaster Zama Masondo. He used to say “now let’s see it again with the feet of a chameleon” when referring to the use of instant replay. It tells us that we need to stop and take a better look at the game in Africa, learning to love and appreciate it. We all know Michael Essien, Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto’o, and Emmanuel Adebayor as the giants of this generation of African footballers. This book gives us an opportunity to better understand their careers and background. It will also help us understand the great players of the past and future players that will come out of this talented continent.
It provides a rare glimpse into the African game, which is one of the last frontiers of world football. Africa’s involvement in sports is often misunderstood, even though it is often called “a sleeping tiger on the world football scene”.
Reading this book will give you a deeper appreciation for the teams participating in the World Cup. It sure would be fitting for an African squad (South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Ivory Coast) to make it to the final round. The game there has come leaps and bounds since its inception and it is finally time for them to get the credit they deserve.
