The Beautiful Game 5 3
Orphan players from the Benaco refugee camp. Senegal 1996/97
“You shouldn’t lose any sleep over van Basten,” I tried
to convince him. “I’m not worried about van Basten as
a person,” he said and I quote, “but when my
magnificent game loses such a talented player, I start to
worry about the future of my beloved sport.”
This coming from a 12-year-old convinced me that he
lived his football, unlike his European counterparts
(who are often fuelled by alcohol and hooliganism).
This young boy’s football was woven into the daily
existence of his life; it was his window of opportunity,
perhaps even his escape.