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The Football Scholar Bringing you a unique blend of Football Journalism and History. Understanding African Footballers in Europe EDITORS: Volume 1 • Issue 1 Jake White CONTENTS Castor Van Dillen ARTICLES REVIEWS AFRICAN SOC- WHAT DO THE CERSCAPES REVIEWED BY ACADEMICS SAY? (P.3) JAKE WHITE (P.5) WHO RUNS FOOTBALL? (P.7) KING; DE VELE WEDEROPSTANDIN- GEORGE WEAH GEN VAN CHRIS : FROM MONROVIA GYAN REVIEWED BY CASTOR AND BACK (P.11) VAN DILLEN (P.9) OPINIONS (P.15) DEAL; MET ROB JANSEN ACHTER DE SCHERMEN VAN HET REFLECTIONS (P.17) TOPVOETBAL REVIEWED BY CASTOR VAN DILLEN (P.14) 2 Football Scholar Magazine , Issue 1 (June 2018) England or Germany, it can be inter- What do the Academics say? preted as shifting between the dif- ferent layers of Wallerstiens theory. Football is discussed by experts, former players and managers, Especially if we take into account the but very rarely do we get to hear a studious approach. tangible barriers of work permits, passports and the difference in in- It is here that he highlights how frastructure between Africa (periph- hen embarking on research football emerged as a counter cul- ery) and Scandinavia (semi-periph- Wfor this article, I tried to tural force which complimented not ery), it becomes a logical step for maintain a scope of inquiry that only the forces of urbanization and some aspiring young African foot- engaged with the trends relevant to a growing African proletariat but ballers. Moreover, we see where Af- the processes which we find present a reclaiming of a sport which was rican footballers as labour fit with- in today’s football world. Evidently, originally introduced as part of the in the system of global capitalism. as the game has become increasing- civilizing mission by the European However, applying too much infer- ly globalized, processes associated colonial powers . Both adhere to the ence to the systemic and institutional with globalisation and connectivity mobilization associated with work- narratives detracts from the agency has become progressively influential ing-class organising that in many of aspirational African footballers. upon football as a game as well as a African colonies was the origins We must give solid attention to why commercial entity. The aim of this of the independence movements people migrate and even understand article is to highlight some of most which came about after the Second how football may not be the greatest illusory academia which comments World War. motivator for these migrations. Mi- on these influences. As a result, I As historians have transcended the gration can consist of push and pull cannot begin to cover everything nation state, football has emerged as factors which can influence both the that has been said, but I have cho- interesting foci but has somewhat need and the possibility of migra- sen opinions which I feel shed as struggled to shed the legacy of co- tion. This can draw upon what Esson much light on the emergence of the lonialism and this is nowhere more refers to as the ‘counter-narraitve’ of version of the game we see today. prevalent than in Africa. Global in- football migration and echoes Car- This academic research aligns with equality existing within a capitalism ter’s point about how individuals the themes of this issue by looking system has meant that capital, labour, negotiate their movements between at African football and the develop- migration and corporations present these overarching forces. ments which have brought so many a meaningful approach to historicize By positing African football migra- African footballers to Europe. football and understanding its place tion within the wider spectrum of Football as both a game and an within these processes. We can place global capitalism, academics have industry has benefitted largely from African footballer migration in the also examined what this means for the ‘global turn’ which has taken context of Wallerstein’s ‘World Sys- foreign intervention in terms of place in the field of History over the tems Theory’. This approach where NGO’s and the emergence of Foot- last decade. Football is an analytical capitalism has brought about a cen- ball academies on the continent. lens which allows historians to focus tre of capitalist development which Seen as attempts to shift the uneven on processes which are not com- consists of the industrialized West- relationship between Africa and partmentalized by the borders of the ern nations and a semi-periphery Europe, these ventures have both nation state. This has enabled acute and a periphery which operate under a positive and negative impact in focus where Africa is concerned due uneven capitalist relations subservi- reference to their aims. Kate Man- to the problematic colonial legacy ent to the former can be applied to zo looked closely at two initiatives associated with nation state bor- the migration of African footballers in her study, the first was ‘Football ders on the continent. In relation to from the periphery, to the semi-pe- for Hope’ and a FIFA joint venture this, there is worthy research of how riphery. A journey which contains with the Guardian newspaper where Kwame Nkrumah used the sport to opportunites as well as risks. they held a tournament and invested mobilize and build popular support African footballers, seen as a form in projects on the continent. These and symbolic significance of the na- of labour within this system can be examples provided a microcosmic tion-state in post-colonial Ghana examined in such a way. By tracing view of how Football interacts with themes of global development. She with the creation of the Ghanaian many African footballers’ journeys highlighted how neo-liberal and national team, the ‘Black Stars’. This to Europe via academies set up in neo-colonial development strategies builds upon Peter Alegi’s excellent Belgium, Greece or Scandinavia to book titled Soccerscapes also re- cast a grey cloud over the good in- the larger leagues of Spain, Eng- viewed in this issue. tentions these ventures possessed. 3 Football Scholar Magazine , Issue 1 (June 2018) Manzo claims that ‘FIFA’s contemporary thinking on development in Africa reflects a fairly smooth transition from a neo-colonial mindset consistent with modernization the- ory to a neo-liberal understanding of social development and entreupnuership’ . Respect- ed Football historian Paul Darby argues that the emergence of football academies present a clear neo-colonial process. Industrialized Western nations dominate the terms in which trade is conducted and football academies in Africa are a mere expression of this notion. Economically speaking, these academies are export-focused and can be seen to be ‘de-skill- ing’ Africa in the process. To conclude my overview of this research, I found that the neo-colonial narrative is pre- dominant in any academic or historical anal- ysis of African footballers in Europe which may be seem like an easy conclusion to draw. However, it is difficult to say whether it is the inability to move away or a lack of motivation to detach from the colonial legacy on the part of academics. I feel it would be wise to attempt to move away from this as we can all agree that the neo-colonial narrative is an established notion and instead of attributing its role, we should be seeking solutions. Furthermore, I found that there was a large economic focus regarding the literature. There has been little attention given to the way in which African footballers in Europe and the processes asso- ciated with this phenomenon have resulted in cultural shifts. By analysing Football in this manner, we open opportunities to understand how the game’s influence transcends the econ- omy and the playing field. 4 Football Scholar Magazine , Issue 1 (June 2018) fostering Pan-Af- the appeal and the belief that those rican tendencies who aspire high enough can also tread through the cre- similar footsteps and in turn contrib- ation of the CAF. ute to the exchange. I found it inter- Finally, with esting how the appeal of what were football becom- deemed ‘African’ traits in players were ing big business, highlighted as a factor in these clubs Alegi shows how bringing these players to Europe. The the globalizing pessimist would highlight the way nature of the in which African footballers were game has fostered demonstrated as fine examples of the both positives colonizing mission. However, Alegi and negatives for focuses on the cultural shift football African football. undertook whilst being played by These includingAfricans on the continent, showing increased privi- how various influences meant African tization, greater players did not possess mere traits, organisational but had developed their own brand of involvement and the football. This brought ability, flair a larger section and passion to the European game of aspiring Afri- through the likes of George Weah, Sa- can footballers lif Keita or Roger Milla. Also, African creating a migra- teams performing noticeably on the tory pattern to world stage demonstrated the same An historical survey of Football Europe in search characteristics as a collective to the of opportunity. globe. Modern day examples high- on the African contintent lighted by Igle such as Michael Essien demonstrate the increased rewards frican SoccerScapes provides involvement and a larger section available for those aspiring to make a a brief but engaging survey of aspiring African footballers A career from the sport. It was interest- of how football developed on the creating a migratory pattern to ing how Alegi highlighted this cultural African continent. Alegi essen- Europe in search of opportunity. exchange that exposed the European tially uses football as an analytical There are two specific themes that game to new, rich footballing cultures lens through which to historicize emerged from Alegi’s work which which contributes to the diversity the effect the game had upon the I intend to explore.

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