"This is an African World Cup, this is a world-class event. There is no contradiction between being African and being world class." - Danny Jordaan, CEO of the 2010 Local Organizing Committee

The lines above came from the final paragraph of African Soccerscapes: How a Continent Changed the World's Game by Peter Alegi. The author, like many others, chose to finish with a poignant ending. This shares the enormous expectations for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, an event that could change many things for all Africans.

Alegi, an emerging expert on world soccer, says it best. "South Africa's hosting of the World Cup represents the latest and most ambitious attempt by an African country to use football to showcase its political achievements, accelerate economic growth, and assert the continent's global citizenship." This could prove to be one of the most important events in the history of South Africa and the region as a whole. A successful event could serve as a turning point for the entire area, while any problems will surely considered a setback of epic proportions.

This text is both thorough and entertaining. It helps us understand the historical context of the 2010 World Cup and the development of the African game. It provides this discussion in a very compact way (roughly 130 pages, not including notes and a bibliography) that leads to a quick and easy read.

The reader is not overwhelmed with unnecessary information, but rather is presented with relevent, thought-provoking content. It allows you as the reader to gain a new persective on Africa and its role in the world soccer scene. It covers a variety of topics and time periods, giving you a solid snapshot of each. Alegi takes the reader on an incredible journey from colonialism through modern day successes and failures.

The World Cup is just one piece of the African soccer puzzle. The development of women's soccer and the youth game is another that will make the continent relevant for years to come. Africa has a great deal of potential in its players and style of play. You see the potential in every corner of the globe. It might be Didier Drogba or Michael Essien playing in the highest level of English football or the dozens of young African players in Major League Soccer. The future is now for Africa and it is incredibly bright.

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