The African Dream: the Black Star

In most African countries soccer players lead a poor existence, let alone that their sport will ever enable them to support themselves. Therefore it is not surprising that, when they get the chance to start a life as a professional soccer player elsewhere - usually in Europe -, they eagerly seize the opportunity. After all, in many cases they have to support their families as well. Hoping to discover new ‘Babangidas’, European talent scouts travel to Africa and offer all kinds of trial contracts to young players. THE AFRICAN DREAM: THE BLACK STAR follows the vicissitudes of the 16-year-old Nigerian boy Indy N‘Duibuisi, who has been given employment at a Belgian club by one such soccer broker. The young player gradually finds out that he is merely a pawn in an obscure game. Manu Riche (Hasselt, 1964) has made various documentaries for the Flemish broadcaster BRTN.