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Feet of the Chameleon: The Story of Football in Africa
In June 2010, Africa will host the World Cup, the most significant global sporting spectacle ever to take place on the continent. South Africa's successful bid was in many ways unsurprising: soccer thrives in every country in Africa, and is a vitally important aspect of communities. This fascinating history traces the development of soccer in Africa and investigates what makes African football unique. Drawing on a wide range of sources, it also examines how the game fits into the social and political life of the continent.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 5, 2010
Every two years, managers from across the continent seem to join forces in their criticism of that which has become the most despised competition in European football: the African Cup of Nations. Being deprived of some of their best players for up to a month in the middle of the season can have a highly unnerving effect on managers, particularly if results start going against them during that period.
Yet the criticism for the competition and the suggestions put forward show not only a deep misunderstanding of African football but also acute lack of respect. For, while the European clubs might rightly claim that they are the ones offering African players a route out of poverty, a bye-product of this migration of players is not only that the local fans don’t ever really get an opportunity to watch their players but that they are shifting attention to the European leagues which in turn is killing off interest in local competitions.
These points are drilled home by “Feet of the Chameleon”, Ian Hawkey’s journey through African football. Not that he forcibly aims to drive through any agenda but rather his style is to simply tell the story of how the game evolved in the African continent.
It is a job that he does brilliantly. Despite the incredible amount of research that must have gone into a work of this nature, this is never allowed to weigh the writing down but rather it provides the backbone of the whole story.
Just as it should. Because Hawkey never loses sight of what he is ultimately doing here: telling a story. This he does by narrating what went on over the years but also by talking to some of the people who actually made the story of African football. This adds perspective to what is being said whilst also adding more flavour to the overall narration.
Hawkey also manages to avoid being either condescending or patronizing to African football. Indeed, his tone remains practically neutral throughout something that might seem as a recipe for a boring read but in reality is anything but: Feet of the Chameleon is an enthralling read.
Here, finally, is a book that does African football justice. One that can immediately be considered as a classic of football literature alongside the likes of Tor and Morbo. If you get to read only one book this year, then this has to be it.
Yet the criticism for the competition and the suggestions put forward show not only a deep misunderstanding of African football but also acute lack of respect. For, while the European clubs might rightly claim that they are the ones offering African players a route out of poverty, a bye-product of this migration of players is not only that the local fans don’t ever really get an opportunity to watch their players but that they are shifting attention to the European leagues which in turn is killing off interest in local competitions.
These points are drilled home by “Feet of the Chameleon”, Ian Hawkey’s journey through African football. Not that he forcibly aims to drive through any agenda but rather his style is to simply tell the story of how the game evolved in the African continent.
It is a job that he does brilliantly. Despite the incredible amount of research that must have gone into a work of this nature, this is never allowed to weigh the writing down but rather it provides the backbone of the whole story.
Just as it should. Because Hawkey never loses sight of what he is ultimately doing here: telling a story. This he does by narrating what went on over the years but also by talking to some of the people who actually made the story of African football. This adds perspective to what is being said whilst also adding more flavour to the overall narration.
Hawkey also manages to avoid being either condescending or patronizing to African football. Indeed, his tone remains practically neutral throughout something that might seem as a recipe for a boring read but in reality is anything but: Feet of the Chameleon is an enthralling read.
Here, finally, is a book that does African football justice. One that can immediately be considered as a classic of football literature alongside the likes of Tor and Morbo. If you get to read only one book this year, then this has to be it.
June 20, 2021
Without question the best football book I’ve read.
September 16, 2018
Although you feel this book was probably published due to the then-upcoming South Africa world cup, this has stood the test of time well and went into the right amount of detail to keep it interesting.
Although this is broadly chronological, it is not a history of African football, but a collection of stories and themes. On the one hand, African football is not one homogenous idea and is not the backward caricature, and yet the tales of bonus disagreements are frequent and appeals to 'juju' are common, even resulting in former Cameroon goalkeeper Nkono being arrested on the sidelines in a proper international match for mockingly spraying water on the pitch as a 'curse.' Hawkey doesn't seek to dispel the myths, merely show that there's more to the continent's contribution to World football, along with discussions of how players come to Europe and how European coaches dominate the national teams.
It's not Hawkey's fault, but I had come across most of the World Cup stories before in a France Football special before the Russian tournament. Fortunately Hawkey's telling isn't boring as he does not fall into the Jonathan Wilson trap of including every single relevant detail, yet approaching it in a balanced manner. However the chapter I found most interesting was on the Algerian breakaway side, something I hadn't come across before despite its significance in independence. There are enough interviews to keep the story human too, rather than relying on second-hand accounts and news reports, though his research is sound as well.
The greatest strength of this was keeping it interesting but without becoming sensationalist - corruption was not ignored, but was only a part of the story. The key lesson for me was that despite FIFA's intentions, it is impossible to separate politics from sport, and in the case of Africa the politics is a massive influence on football, probably for the worse.
Although this is broadly chronological, it is not a history of African football, but a collection of stories and themes. On the one hand, African football is not one homogenous idea and is not the backward caricature, and yet the tales of bonus disagreements are frequent and appeals to 'juju' are common, even resulting in former Cameroon goalkeeper Nkono being arrested on the sidelines in a proper international match for mockingly spraying water on the pitch as a 'curse.' Hawkey doesn't seek to dispel the myths, merely show that there's more to the continent's contribution to World football, along with discussions of how players come to Europe and how European coaches dominate the national teams.
It's not Hawkey's fault, but I had come across most of the World Cup stories before in a France Football special before the Russian tournament. Fortunately Hawkey's telling isn't boring as he does not fall into the Jonathan Wilson trap of including every single relevant detail, yet approaching it in a balanced manner. However the chapter I found most interesting was on the Algerian breakaway side, something I hadn't come across before despite its significance in independence. There are enough interviews to keep the story human too, rather than relying on second-hand accounts and news reports, though his research is sound as well.
The greatest strength of this was keeping it interesting but without becoming sensationalist - corruption was not ignored, but was only a part of the story. The key lesson for me was that despite FIFA's intentions, it is impossible to separate politics from sport, and in the case of Africa the politics is a massive influence on football, probably for the worse.
January 24, 2018
Not the best I thought, but covered almost everything.. Still caught in a hurry in the last two chapters.
November 24, 2021
Taking us up to 2010 or so, the rise of African football is told by an expert whose first-person recollections and interviews make him the perfect guide. Very good on mysticism and voodoo.
June 12, 2022
Excellent
January 31, 2016
This is a very interesting, very thoroughly researched, and very balanced account of the development, history and current (in 2010) state of African football, written in the lead-up to the World Cup in South Africa. I thought it was excellently put together - the author managing to put many of the continent's best teams (national and domestic) in context, whilst also placing this all into a chronological framework. Though it seems slightly dated due to being written four or five years ago, had I read this around the time of the 2010 World Cup it would have seemed pretty relevant.
Alas though it fell slightly short in the overall assessment due to not having a particularly clear conclusion. Factually it was excellent, as a read it was entertaining, but I wasn't left feeling I'd gained anything significant (apart from a better knowledge of the sport in Africa) or that the author had put across a particularly innovative or novel viewpoint. It was soundly a reference book in this context.
Alas though it fell slightly short in the overall assessment due to not having a particularly clear conclusion. Factually it was excellent, as a read it was entertaining, but I wasn't left feeling I'd gained anything significant (apart from a better knowledge of the sport in Africa) or that the author had put across a particularly innovative or novel viewpoint. It was soundly a reference book in this context.
June 5, 2013
Sad and uplifting at the same time, feet of the chameleon is simply a very good book about the beautiful game. Lucidly written and witty and dramatic when least expected, this book offers a great overview of Africa's football history. A definite read for anyone interested in the game, the continent or unlikely revolutionaries.
July 26, 2015
Excellent introduction to the sport if Africa.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews