Big Men playing football: money, politics and foul play in the African game Pannenborg, A. Citation Pannenborg, A. (2012). Big Men playing football: money, politics and foul play in the African game. Leiden: African Studies Centre. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/1887/20224 Version: Not Applicable (or Unknown) License: Leiden University Non-exclusive license Downloaded from: https://hdl.handle.net/1887/20224 Note: To cite this publication please use the final published version (if applicable). Big Men playing football African Studies Centre African Studies Collection, vol. 43 Big Men playing football Money, politics and foul play in the African game Arnold Pannenborg Published by: African Studies Centre P.O.Box 9555 2300 RB Leiden
[email protected] www.ascleiden.nl Cover design: Heike Slingerland Cover photo: A director of Hearts of Oak waves the club colours before the big match against Asante Kotoko at the stadium in Accra, Ghana. Cover photo: Sanne Terlingen Photos: Sanne Terlingen, Arnold Pannenborg Printed by Ipskamp Drukkers, Enschede ISSN: 1876-018X ISBN: 978-90-5448-118-8 © Arnold Pannenborg, 2012 Contents List of figures and photos vii Acknowledgements ix 1 INTRODUCTION 1 The de-virtualised world of football 2 A study of Big Men in the African game 13 2 A SHORT HISTORY OF FOOTBALL IN AFRICA 22 Africa, football and the early days 23 Football after independence: The good old days 29 The lost decade: Economic crisis and structural adjustments 35 The new millennium: Exodus, commercialisation and Europe 41 3 LOOKING FOR A WEALTHY