Below is a translation from German of an extract from the Tag Zeitung article that appeared in Germany last Friday:

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“How close together success and misery are in football is also a theme in Suridh Hassan’s “Soka Afrika.”   The film documents the fates of two young African players.  One of them, Kermit Erasmus, has made a breakthrough.  He plays in the Dutch league for Feyenoord Rotterdam, the professional dream has come true for him. Ndomo Sabo, in contrast, arrives for a bogus trial on the streets of Paris. He is one of many young African players who are trafficked to Europe by so-called football agents.

In the hope of glory and success, the family sold all their possessions in order to enable the son to fly to France. Once there, the agent disappeared with the money. Ndomo had to fend for himself - how many others dare not return home, the shame too great without having achieved something.

What distinguishes this film is its objectivity. It is not looking for culprits, it remains neutral. “We just wanted to show the truth. The audience can draw their own conclusions,” said Simon Laub, producer of Soka Afrika. At the end of the festival the audience will decide which movie wins the “Golden 11” for best football film 2011. Whatever the outcome there can be no losers here.”

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