Future stars and yesterday’s heroes

Milla-Eto’o Squabble

The Eto’o-Milla squabble that was a hot topic of debate in Cameroon before the World Cup has resurfaced yet again and divided Cameroonians. There are fears that the debate may go on for a long time if Cameroon is finally kicked out of the World Cup. But, what was the source of the Milla-Eto’o squabble?

By Leocadia Jisi Bonbeng - 21 June 2010 - Future stars and yesterday's heroes, Text

Ways and Means

Players throughout Africa consult juju men, traditional healers known elsewhere on the continent as muti men. Many players believe in the power of spirits to influence their destiny, others go along to build their confidence.

By Michael Tsegaye - 16 June 2010 - Future stars and yesterday's heroes, Photo

A Coach with a Vision

Once a striker with Lusaka Dynamos, Collins Akatama was blinded in 1997 and was forced to relinquish any dreams he may have had of pursuing a career in soccer. More than a decade later, Akatama has been praised for the role he has played as a coach and mentor to hundreds of young boys between the ages of 10 and 20.

By Shravan Vidyarthi - 16 June 2010 - Future stars and yesterday's heroes, Multimedia

Drogba Dependence

The World Cup warm-up draw against FC Lausanne, a Swiss second division club, shows how desperately The Elephants need Didier Drogba. The poor performance of his team mates during his absence fuels the debate over Ivory Coast’s national football team’s inveterate dependence on the talismanic Number 11.

By Selay Marius Kouassi - 15 June 2010 - Future stars and yesterday's heroes, Text

An African Summer

Every summer Africa’s finest footballers go home after playing in European competitions. This summer, however, the likes of Samuel Eto’o, Didier Drogba and Stephen Pienaar will be spending their summer representing their nation at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Zambian striker, Jacob Mulenga, who plays for Dutch premier league side, Utrecht, plans to watch the tournament from his home in Kitwe with his friends and family.

By Kennedy Gondwe - 11 June 2010 - Future stars and yesterday's heroes, Text

Rising Star



Hundreds of children flock to the three townships where Play Soccer Malawi operates, but the skill and determination of one young boy, 12-year-old Yaphet Thole, is enough to single him out in the crowd.



By Amos Gumulira - 10 June 2010 - Future stars and yesterday's heroes, Photo

Soccer in Black and White

Simon “Bull” Lehoko is one of the giants of South African soccer and his career spanned 30 years and included playing for Kaizer Chiefs, as well as coaching and managing Vaal Professionals. In this piece he describes how soccer united black and white during The Struggle in South Africa.

By Leonie Marinovich - 7 April 2010 - Future stars and yesterday's heroes, Multimedia