Taken Up

afootballreport:

By John Ray, follow on Twitter.

“Les Elephants”, the footballers of the Ivory Coast, help captivate and enthrall a nation while playing against Madagascar: large outdoor television flicker and the metropolis of Abidjan rustles. Arouna Kone (PSV) crosses to Salomon Kalou (Chelsea) at the edge of the area; the supporters swell in deliverance as he belts the ball into the Malagasy net. There are chants and dances to the djembe drum in the stands and in Abidjan; life in the country is good. A month later the stadium is empty, except for a smattering of people around the halfway line. ASEC Mimosas, the Ivory Coast’s most successful team, are playing a match, but no one seems to care. Ivorian international football has always had the capacity to unite and excite the nation, but interest in domestic football has gradually shrunk to null as the push for Europe has consumed the clubs. ASEC and its academy provide a perfect example of the effects (good and bad) of what is, for the lack of a better term, player commoditization.

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This video tells the story of how many African players are fooled and swindled out of their life savings and then are dropped into poverty without a second thought.  Even though this is a relatively old video it is still a growing problem.  Watch, learn, and spread the word - http://www.good.is/post/video-soccer-s-lost-boys/

Also, check out this foundation that hopes to help those stranded in France - http://www.footsolidaire.org/

Parts of this are akin to a modern day slave trade…these voices cannot go unheard.

www.bettercallsaul.com/