This is an interesting book about the enduring and hopeful quality of football in Africa. Many of the stories are quite sad and filled with the tear-jerking realities of life in many war-torn countries and cities. For many people living in these situations, one of the lights in their life comes from playing and watching football matches. In many of the stories there is an undercurrent of hopeful nationalism, people wanting to wave their flag and feel pride for their country, but have yet to have a chance to do so. The coverage of sport is left to a minimum, but is peppered in well enough to keep this a reportage of how football affects the lives of many. My only gripe is the "Americanization" of the language. The readers of this book will be well aware of the term football and petrol.