Africa Goal links up with Africa United!

We are excited to be linking with Steve Bloomfield’s book Africa United, which has just listed by the New York Times as one of this year’s best books about the World Cup.In Steve’s words the book is not an encyclopedia of African football but “It’s the story of how Africa has been shaped by its football and how Africa is now shaping football.”

Here in the introduction Steve gives a synopsis of the beautiful game in the continent and the importance of an Africa based World Cup:

 Africa is a continent in flux. In the first decade of the twenty-first century Africa has been through more changes than at any time since waves of independence swept across the continent fifty years ago.

 Football has been at the forefront of Africa’s recent changes. Players such as Côte d’Ivoire’s Didier Drogba and Nigeria’s Nwankwo Kanu have become global stars. 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. Those players have found fame in Africa, but they have made their fortune in Europe. The success of Africa’s footballers in Europe reflects the economic difficulties the continent still faces. Few African countries have clubs rich enough to be able to afford the sort of wages that Drogba or Adebayor can earn in Europe.

In most cases, though, African league football is of a poor standard. Despite the continent’s love of africa united the game, crowds for local league matches rarely get above a few hundred, particularly if the kick-off time clashes with an English Premier League match on satellite television. Football in Africa often reflects the political and cultural struggles that a country is experiencing.

For decades African footballers have been leaving the continent to play their football. Now the world’s best footballers are coming to Africa. The tournament will focus attention on African football like never before. It will also be an opportunity to shine a light on the new Africa. The continent that is constantly viewed through the prism of war, poverty and disease will get a chance to present a different face.

 

We will be looking at Steve’s analysis in AfrIca United of football in Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa as we travel through the region.

You can follow Steve’s thoughts on the World Cup and football in Africa on his blog

You can also buy his book from Amazon online