In the 1980s, the president of the African Football Confederation stated that 'African football must make a choice' with regards to the exportation and retention of homegrown talent. Yidnekatchew Tessema was highlighting concerns still present today, as more and more African football players opt to play for the European nations where they seek employment as professional athletes.
This week we speak to Professor Wycliffe Njororai Simiyu about the history of African footballers playing in Europe as well as the experiences of players of African descent today.
The earliest players tended to be from French colonial territories, such as Raoul Diagne, who was the first Black footballer to play for France in the 1930s. Other popular destinations for talented players from Africa included Portugal, Belgium, and Britain, and over time these nations have been transformed into multiracial, diverse societies. However, Njororai notes that the ‘mining and export of indigenous football talent for consumption in European markets’ is reflective of ‘broader imperialist and neo-imperialist economic exploitation’; the recruitment of African players is effectively a continuation of the historic economic exploitation of the African continent, within a global capitalist system whose terms are determined by Western industrialized nations.
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Each week, Ash, Chris and Norman explore societal issues through the lens of the beautiful game.
From the ethics of gambling sponsorship to what a stadium move means for fans, we’ll be covering it all each week with expert guests from the worlds of sports journalism and sociology.
