No comments about Woody and Nord: A Football Friendship.

No comments about Ryan Giggs (Soccer Heroes).

No comments about The Lost Summer.

2 comments about Has Anybody Got a Whistle?.

1. A joy to read both for the African and the football observations. Totally off the beaten path, and better for it.



2. You can get ready for World Cup 2010 in South Africa by reading this book, and if for some reason, it is played somewhere else, it is still worthwhile reading. It should be reprinted.
   
   I saw a list on the 50 best books on soccer to read from the magazine Four Four Two; and this one certainly belongs on that list. It wasn't there, but it was better than some I read that were on the list and that list is subjective anyway; as you read on what interests you; if you are interested in Africa; you'll gobble this book right up!
   
   Peter Auf Der Heyde, the author really loves his subject; grew up in South Africa; both with Apartheid and with out it. He played goalkeeper for black teams in South Africa and is a journalist with a unique perspective. I'd read about anything by him; he is an encyclopedia on African soccer (which by the way, he calls someone else that in the book).
   
   We read about his journeys to World Cup and African Nations Cup qualifiers as well, as viewing games at the World Cup and at the Cup of African Nations. Besides that, we read his coverage of the South African bid to hold the World Cup in 2006; which obviously failed, so the next time, was there time.
   
   He travels the continent to see these games and of course, in one chapter, he was off to France to see the World Cup.
   
   We learn about Muti (seems to be what black magic would be in South Africa) and Voodoo being used in soccer games in Africa, the amiable and pleasant nature of the players from there, about problems that had happened in stadiums that caused disasters, even the common subject in soccer about corruption in it's adminstration and associations among many topics and many countries.
   
   Early in the book, we find out about the Football (read Soccer) Associations in South Africa, Auf Der Heyde's homebase country and a bit of the way it was during Apartheid and afterwards. This goes into quite a bit of detail; but it doesn't last long and is important. After that, this is an exceptional book, to read at night about faraway places and exotic locales. If Auf Der Heyde ever rights a sequel; I think, the only thing, Auf Der Heyde did not cover is the question there is about some African's birthdates in soccer. I'm sure he could tell us a lot about this. He is so knowledgeable in this field; I think, I could chat with him on African football (soccer) for hours.
   
   There are a number of pages of photos which are in color. Quite a few of the pictures are noteworthy, including one of the author with Nelson Mandela.
   
   If one enjoys this book, the movie on South Africa; Catch a fire I would recommend as well.

No comments about Michael Owen (Pocket Heroes).

1 comments about Not Playing for Celtic: Another Paradise Lost.

1. You do not have to be a Celtic fan to enjoy this but it does help. David Bennie is one of the most brilliant of the new soccer literati and his humor is what sets him apart from the field. Thoroughly enjoyable.

No comments about Matthew Harding.

No comments about Life of Brian.

No comments about The David Beckham Story.

No comments about Football Stories.