He doesn’t focus solely on the more obvious soccer nations of Africa though, providing a rare glimpse at football’s reach into the likes of Somalia, Rwanda and Chad. Conflicts, corruption, political interference and human tragedy are all covered and all have their role to play.
Bloomfield’s in depth knowledge of Africa comes through strongly, notably when looking at the various conflict zones where soccer has provided a beacon of hope, and also in looking at amputee football in Sierra Leone. There is also a view of the role football, and more specifically certain footballers particularly Didier Drogba, played in helping to end a civil war in Cote d’Ivoire. These are all told with an expert’s eye for detail and Bloomfield’s depth of knowledge means he places each situation in its wider context.
From riding in a car through the late night streets of downtown Cairo with the captain of the Egyptian national team, who regularly conquer the African Cup of Nations, to looking at the unorthodoxly funded DR Congo side TP Mazembe who conquered the African club game, the stories are as colourful as you’d imagine.
The sad fact is that without an African World Cup, the eyes of the world may never have focused so keenly on these issues, if indeed they managed to at all. Even at four years distance, this still makes for an informative read at a part of the world where so many talented players have come from, but so many issues still provide seemingly endless obstacle to those living and playing in Africa.
It’s a well written and informative account that educates and inspires in equal measure. The World Cup may have moved on to another country and another continent but these stories, and no doubt many more like them, live on to prove just how far the global game’s reach can be.
- Aidan Williams http://thesportsbookreview.com
Publisher - Canongate Books
Date of Publication -17th Feb 2011