Soccer's Lost Boys

WHERE ARE THE FIRST WORLD EMBASSIES on this issue? WHY aren't the African nations, each country alone first, making reports or at least asking for help in searching for their lost boys? There are inumerable intenational laws against Trafficking in Persons, and without knowing, these laws cannot be enforced. Please help save them and seek out institutions.

By being prideful and unwilling to return home unsuccessful, these victims of the soccer trade only serve to perpetuate it.

I was thrilled when Ghana got knocked out of the World Cup last week ;P

But that aside, this is a great (sad) story... Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

In a lot of ways it reminds me of the price of college in the United States. The colleges know that the overwhelming majority of students will never complete their education and drop out, so they inflate the prices so high that even one year can cost upwards of 40,000 dollars. So the drop out will then have to pay $40,000 for an education they never achieved. And equally the problem there stems from the 'dream' that they always say over and over "you can become anything you want".

It's sick the way swindlers operate in this world like that. It ruins lives but they could give a crap...

As a 16 year old soccer player with hopes of playing in Europe, I can see how these kids are tricked by these "agents". The dream of playing for a European club is one that I am currently pursuing. I would do anything to get there. It's true, "they are sellers of hope".

Wow. As a person who was born in Nigeria & was lucky enough to be brought to the US for a new lease on life, this story hits home. I am just a few good decisions from the people in the documentary. Instead of being who I am today, a student, an artist, a daydreamer, I could be back in Nigeria trading my families little fortune for dreams that will never come true.

Thanks for creating this doc and thanks to CBC Radio 1 (Canada) for mentioning this story and bringing it to my attention. I'll pass it on to friends. Now I watch the World Cup in a new light. Ignorance is bliss.
I look forward to seeing as many Vanguard productions as possible. Important stories, wonderfully told.

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OMG, so moving... thank you so much for this report.
We need to send this to everyone we know RIGHT NOW (during World Cup) because people have Soccer/Futbol on their mind. I posted it on FACEBOOK.
Many folks have already responded & are gonna re-post to their own page.

Unfortunately, it's difficult to get (most) people to care about young black men... no matter where they're from... so, we really have to try our best to get the word out; hopefully, enough good-hearted people will stand-up and make noise.

Money talks!!!

While this is a very sad story, and Vanguard's treatment is well done, I think that comparing it to the Lost Boys of Sudan, human trafficking, and slavery diminishes the horrors of those crimes. The boys in this documentary were free to not play soccer. The couch who 'bought' so many boys bought the right to represent their soccer careers, not the right to force them into war, or work in the sex industry.

Horribly touching. The youth coach, Mr. Smith, is a pirate who's only ambition is to sell dreams to the boys and their parents.Imagine someone telling you that if you become an accountant, you're nothing and nobody cares.Get this documentary over to ESPN before the World Championships Games are over.

Thank you.

Excellent episode as per usual. My favorite of the season so far (sans Captive in North Korea of course).

Glad to see this story get told this way, and there is no better time to do it.

Thank you .. thank you

thanks for making me aware. bravo!

Bravo, this is a fantastic piece. Moving, inspiring, emotional, really well done. I hope more people can see this!

What an amazing piece, it really brought a light on an issue i never heard about before.
I get now why the FIFA wanted to do this world cup in África no matter what but is interesting they havent talk about it or use this event yo expose it, i hope they Will.