Vanguard's "Soccer's Lost Boys" Live Tweets

Correspondent Mariana van Zeller and producer Jeff Plunkett both live tweeted the premiere of "Soccer's Lost Boys."

MarianaVZ In 15 mins you'll have new perspective on soccer. I'll be live tweeting, so you can tweet me to hell for ruining your #worldcup glee.

MarianaVZ  Did anyone see the #uru #rsa game? It was sad to see Bafana bafana lose, but looks like Uruguay might be the hidden gem of the #worldcup

JKPlunkett Of the African World Cup teams, only Ghana looks likely to advance. That will make many of the people you're about to meet very happy.

MarianaVZ Francis is 1 of the sweetest people I've ever met. We met him shortly aftr we arrived in Morocco and spent the rest of our time there w/ him

MarianaVZ Didier Drogba just played against my country's team #por . He's good friends w/ my fave player Cristiano Ronaldo.

MarianaVZ I retraced some tracks for this story. A few years, ago I reported on African migration to Europe via Morocco + Mauritania.

MarianaVZ Thats when I first heard of soccer players being abandoned. [Watch Mariana reporting from Morocco in 2006.]

MarianaVZ I knew Africa was soccer crazy, but Ghana beats all. On arrival at airport there was huge crowd watching game on TV. Filming started immediately

JKPlunkett Ghana is one my favorite places ever. Such good people...at least most of them.

MarianaVZ We met Coach Smith on the sidelines of a soccer field on our 2nd day in Ghana. He thought we were soccer agents initially.

JKPlunkett Coach Smith kept the player cards in the cushions of his couch. Along with family photos. [Watch Mariana interview Coach Danny Smith about buying and selling players.]

MarianaVZ People wld come up to us while we were filming pickup games and ask if we were agents. Even aftr we insisted we were journos.

MarianaVZ Coach Smith was a soundbite machine, a real natural on camera. I didn't need to ask much as he loved 2 talk + explain how all works.

MarianaVZ Wait to end of piece and you'll see how Coach Smith takes over my job :-)

MarianaVZ We heard many heartbreaking stories of families torn apart because of false promises of soccer stardom. But still for most the dream remains

JKPlunkett Love Essien. So fun to pick what goal to use for that shot.

MarianaVZ Also retraced some old steps for this part. In 2006, I was in the same neighborhood covering the Paris Riots...

MarianaVZ My undercover producer is @jkplunkett. [Watch Mariana go undercover in a black market pick-up game outside Paris.]

JKPlunkett My cameo in the piece.

MarianaVZ . @jkplunkett knows a sh.t load about soccer and plays too. He has the "touch", as our African friends said. Means he's a talented player.

MarianaVZ This interview in an underground parking garage in Paris was one of the saddest intrvws I've ever done.

MarianaVZ This interview in an underground parking garage in Paris was one of the saddest intrvws I've ever done. It was so hard to keep my composure.

JKPlunkett I was outside the car shooting exteriors and had no idea what was going on inside the car. Such a strange experience.

MarianaVZ You'll soon meet Francis parents. They haven't seen their son in over 7 months

JKPlunkett Get ready to meet Francis's parents. You'll quickly understand why Francis is so sweet.

MarianaVZ I love this moment when Francis' dad talks about not liking his son's new dyed hair. It's so typical of dads all over the world.

MarianaVZ Stephen Appiah played for #gha in their first game of the #worldcup

JKPlunkett I love that Francis in Morocco and these lucky players at the academy are both wearing Man U gear.

MarianaVZ Right to Dream was such an inspirational place to visit. Aftr wks of reporting on ugly side of soccer it was gr8 2 see it can do good.

JKPlunkett Such good kids at Right to Dream. Amazing academy. I want to go work there.

MarianaVZ If you'd like to find out more abt Right to Dream academy - http://www.righttodream.com/. They're doing wonderful work. [Follow Right to Dream on Twitter.]

JKPlunkett Right to Dream has 4 players right now on full scholarship at UC Santa Cruz.

MarianaVZ The sage last words of coach Smith, when he takes over my job. He nailed it in the head -"It always comes back to what happens in Africa..."

MarianaVZ Thanks for watching "Soccer's Lost Boys". All the credit goes to @darren_foster and @jplunkett - incredible producers!