Inside Vanguard's Soccer's Lost Boys: Mariana van Zeller Reflects

The sad part of this entire story that takes place in many locations throughout Africa, is that it's only a fraction of what really takes place in all sports globally. I mean, let's face it, one or two Networks can only cover fragments of these stories. Asking one or two reporters to cover them is an almost impossible and daunting task.
The real issue as far as African Nations go in this well produced documentary, is that in order to entice these children to attend school, there has to be a soccer field built. During the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, I observed several commercials, although I can't remember the slogan, it referred to soccer, leading the way to stopping the violence that takes place on a regular basis.
In the United States we've made several of the same type of organizations that were built, but instead of soccer fields, basketball courts were built instead, designed to curb inner city violence and promote inner community unity.
Growing up in New Jersey, I can tell you that the basketball courts that were built were state of the art. Take the courts that were built in the Weequahic section, some great events have taken place at this location, even the Mayor of Newark, Corey Booker, who has done a tremendous job rebuilding the city, has spent time there, hooping it up. However, once the games over and the powers that be vacate the location, it doesn't take long for the O.G.'s to make there presence felt, and often violence takes center court!
The root of the problem here is, we shouldn't spend tax payers dollars, and I know it sounds like a cliché, on these athletic fields without asking the community to put something on the table themselves.
How about building an educative incentive, that requires students to first voluntarily commit to either a math or a science course once a week at the least, obtaining good grades will not be the objective, however steady attendance, good behavior and an honest attempt performing at the highest level in class, would be! I mean correct me if I'm wrong, isn't the same expected of them on any soccer field or basketball court, football field, track meet?
I would like to Thank the great staff at Current, for the tremendous job they continue to do throughout the World, even if it means risking personal safety, and personal freedom! Peace!

The piece is a rip off of ESPN's original mini-documentary. Regretably van Zeller (once more) goes for more flash and less substance approach to tell a teary story full of adjectives and cliches (and without the level of investigation that PBS's Frontline had in their version of "Soccer trafficking" that aired for the first time in 2008.) Her cutaways with her concerned look and the alleged hidden camera are staged. She should be getting Tony's instead of fooling the very impressionable (it seems) Peabody award jury.

sad, very sad. It seems there is no way to escape those who will exploit others...and for what?