Bend it like Samuel Eto’o: A girls aspirations to play in the Women’s World Cup

There is much hype and excitement preceding the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup. In Southern Africa, it is particularly exciting that this is the first time it will happen on African soil. This global sporting event attracts significant attention and drama whereverit is hosted in the world. However, there is little public or media attention attached to the Women’s World Cup. So where do young women and girl soccer players get their inspiration? This article explores the hopes of one such girl to play in the Women’s World Cup, as well as the gender stereotypes that she must live with for the love of the game. Her dream is to play professional football, not surprisingly, male footballers like Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o inspire her. She has never heard of Alice Matlou of South Africa or Marta of Brazil, though she knows that renowned female footballers do exist. She wishes she could make it big like Eto’o some day.

ISBN: 978-1-920550-40-0
Publisher: Gender Links
Edition: 7th Edition
Year of Publication: 2009