THIS book is not about World Cup success. It is also not about goals scored and matches won. Rather it is about how football can rebuild a country, end a war or provide a beacon of light in times of despair.
Title: Africa United: How Football Explains Africa
Author: Steve Bloomfield
Publisher: Canongate Books
It's the story of how Africa has been shaped by its football and how Africa is now shaping football.
This is how Steve Bloomfield concludes his introduction to this spell-binding and frank look at what the beautiful game means to millions of Africans on the continent.
Bloomfield chose 13 countries, covered in 10 chapters of riveting reading. They include some of the best on the continent and some of the worst: giants who have appeared at numerous World Cups and minnows that will struggle even to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations.
He looks at the historic background of African countries, the advent of democracy in some, the never-ending wars in others, how rebels are a law unto themselves in the bushes and trenches, the rich getting richer while the poor get poorer, and the emergence of a powerful middle-class who will likely have greater influence as the next decade evolves.
An example he gives is of the Kenyan capital of Nairobi (which could be any city in any African country).
"The rich live in gated communities of new apartment blocks, while the poor are crammed into overflowing slums," Bloomfield writes.
"The dichotomy of the new Nairobi is summed up by the Westgate Centre, a three-storey mall selling plasma TV screens and soft furnishings. As Westgate customers in their shiny 4x4s queue to get in, small children knock on their windows begging for loose change."
As you read this you probably can easily relate to the scenes. It's happening on our doorsteps.
Democracy has taken one step forward and two steps back, he laments.
Also makes you think of the envisaged media tribunal and the Protection of Information Bill that's going to be made law by the ruling ANC government.
Experience has taught some of us that any debate on issues that have already been decided upon by the party is nothing but an exercise in futility and a waste of valuable resources. It will happen whether citizens like it or not - think capital punishment, abortion and OBE!
Only the recently ended 2010 Fifa World Cup (read football) was able to unite us as a nation.
We are now back to our "normal" selves and striking, fighting, load-shedding and corrupt as ever.
And, amid the gloom and doom of life on the African continent, football becomes the only unifying factor where all feel almost equal on passion.
Think of a famous African and the names that come to mind tend to be political leaders or footballers. Mandela and Eto'o. Mugabe and Essien.
Enjoyable read, frank, hard-hitting and pulls no punches.
Power of football as a unifying factor
THIS book is not about World Cup success. It is also not about goals scored and matches won. Rather it is about how football can rebuild a country, end a war or provide a beacon of light in times of despair.
Title: Africa United: How Football Explains Africa
Author: Steve Bloomfield
Publisher: Canongate Books
It's the story of how Africa has been shaped by its football and how Africa is now shaping football.
This is how Steve Bloomfield concludes his introduction to this spell-binding and frank look at what the beautiful game means to millions of Africans on the continent.
Bloomfield chose 13 countries, covered in 10 chapters of riveting reading. They include some of the best on the continent and some of the worst: giants who have appeared at numerous World Cups and minnows that will struggle even to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations.
He looks at the historic background of African countries, the advent of democracy in some, the never-ending wars in others, how rebels are a law unto themselves in the bushes and trenches, the rich getting richer while the poor get poorer, and the emergence of a powerful middle-class who will likely have greater influence as the next decade evolves.
An example he gives is of the Kenyan capital of Nairobi (which could be any city in any African country).
"The rich live in gated communities of new apartment blocks, while the poor are crammed into overflowing slums," Bloomfield writes.
"The dichotomy of the new Nairobi is summed up by the Westgate Centre, a three-storey mall selling plasma TV screens and soft furnishings. As Westgate customers in their shiny 4x4s queue to get in, small children knock on their windows begging for loose change."
As you read this you probably can easily relate to the scenes. It's happening on our doorsteps.
Democracy has taken one step forward and two steps back, he laments.
Also makes you think of the envisaged media tribunal and the Protection of Information Bill that's going to be made law by the ruling ANC government.
Experience has taught some of us that any debate on issues that have already been decided upon by the party is nothing but an exercise in futility and a waste of valuable resources. It will happen whether citizens like it or not - think capital punishment, abortion and OBE!
Only the recently ended 2010 Fifa World Cup (read football) was able to unite us as a nation.
We are now back to our "normal" selves and striking, fighting, load-shedding and corrupt as ever.
And, amid the gloom and doom of life on the African continent, football becomes the only unifying factor where all feel almost equal on passion.
Think of a famous African and the names that come to mind tend to be political leaders or footballers. Mandela and Eto'o. Mugabe and Essien.
Enjoyable read, frank, hard-hitting and pulls no punches.
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