When the poor sponsor the rich: Rwanda and Arsenal FC

Filip Reyntjens* tells how one of the world’s poorest countries came to sponsor one of the Britain’s richest soccer teams

Arsenal FC’s new sponsor is Rwanda. Twitter/@Arsenal

Rwanda keeps surprising. Recently the Rwandan Development Board signed a sleeve sponsoring deal with London Premier League club, Arsenal. Over a three-year period, the 200 sq centimetre ad “Visit Rwanda” will cost the country USD$39 million.

SAFA President: Too many foreigners in African World Cup teams

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  Africa was the worst-performing continent with all five representatives exiting at the group stages | Reuters

“We need to revisit the issue of awarding citizenship… Morocco had four Spanish-born players… four of Dutch heritage and five who were born in France.”

Europe is draining Africa of football talent

Extensive research into trafficking of young African players reveals that such major European clubs as Manchester United and Chelsea systematically use loopholes in the regulation to recruit youth players from the African continent, leaving up to 20,000 former footballers living on the streets of European cities.

The brain drain

Second Reflection on the Pan American Games

Reflections by Cuban President Fidel Castro

I MENTIONED something and included a quotation on this topic for an example I used in my last reflection, titled “Bush, Health and Education,” which I dedicated to children. In this reflection, aimed at the first class to graduate from the University of Information Sciences (UCI), I shall delve more deeply into this thorny issue.

Tracing 442 young enslaved African footballers

In Belgium, a politician has uncovered 442 cases of illegal trade with young soccer talent. But the problem is widespread

By KASPER LINDBERG

THE international trading of football players is subject to very little regulation and young football players are being trafficked from Africa to European clubs on a large scale. A Belgian senator has investigated 442 cases of illegal trade with Nigerian players in Belgium alone.

The Games and South Africa: What is the central issue?

By TONY SEED, Nova Scotia Cricketer, 1986

THE question of sporting links with South Africa has been a source of fierce controversy and clash in the international cricketing world for over a decade.

What has been obscured in all the hue and cry over whether Canadian athletes ought to compete in the Commonwealth Games is the central issue: where you stand.

Everyone from Otto Jelinek, the Cabinet Minister, to Alex Baumann, the swimmer, the local sports boo-hahs have spared no syllable in declaring the sports and politics do not mix.