On this week's round up we look at some of the action from the final round of games in the second phase of qualifying for the Nations Cup and World Cup, Wigan's Amr Zaki scores an anbsolute cracker against high-flying Liverpool, and Seb Blatter discusses South Africa's preperations for the World Cup

BLATTER ON SOUTH AFRICA 2010

President of FIFA, Seb Blatter, talks to CNN about South Africa's prepartions for the 2010 World Cup.

In this weeks round up- an absolute scorcher in South Africa, a look at some of Africa's finest goals at the World Cup and the irresistible Adebayor.

SCREAMING GOAL!

An absolute scorcher from the South African Premier League last week. Luntu Manzana scoring against his old club as Bay United beat Orlando Pirates 2-0.

Adebayor | World Cup | South Africa | Youtube roundup

This round-up we take a look at the silky skills of Pascal Feindouno, see why Amr Zaki is making a big impact in the Premier League and look back to 1972 final of the African Nations Cup between Mali and Congo.

FRENCH SAY FAREWELL TO FEINDOUNO

 Guinea midfielder Pascal Feindouno has left La Ligue and St Etienne after his controversial transfer to Quatari side Al Sadd eventually went through. Initially the French side was furious claiming that despite never agreeing to the transfer Feindouno had signed a contract with the Quatari side. They ordered Feindouno to return but after he refused the clubs managed to agree a deal. Despite his acrimonious exit with skills like these France will sorely miss this mercurial talent.

Youtube roundup | feindouno | Zaki | CAN1972

The First Black Footballer: Arthur Wharton, 1865-1930 - An Absence of Memory

Phil Vasili

A biography of the world's first black professional footballer, set in the cultural and political context of Victorian England. Offers new insight into the onset of sport professionalism, the class divide and the roots of institutionalized racism.

Arthur Wharton was the world's first black professional footballer. He was also the first 100 yards world record holder and twice amateur sprint champion of Britain. He came from a wealthy Gold Coast/Ghanaian family, enjoyed national celebrity in England as an all-round athlete, but died a pauper in a South Yorkshire pit village. Recounted within the social, cultural and political context of Victorian England, Wharton's story not only remembers the turbulent personal and professional life of an eminent sportsman but offers fresh insight into the onset of professionalism in British sport, the class divide and the beginnings of institutionalized racism. The author is collaborating with Irvine Welsh on a dramatization of Wharton's life which Channel 4 will broadcast next year.

This book is available to buy here.

Soccer and Disaster: International Perspectives

Paul Darby, Martin Johnes, and Gavin Mellor

A sending off, the conceding of a vital goal, an untimely defeat: disaster is a much used term in sport.  Yet soccer has also been the victim of real disasters: events where people lost their lives.  When compared to tragedies such as the Munich air disaster and the Heysel stadium disaster, the results of games become insignificant.  Football is not more important than life and death.

This book looks at soccer disasters from across the globe.  From the loss of talented young players in air crashes in Munich and Zambia to fatal overcrowding in South Africa, Moscow, and the UK, the game and its fans and players have been the victims of negligence, complacency and misfortune.  The causes, consequences and legacies of these and other disasters are explored here in a book that reveals frightening parallels and important lessons.

This book is available to buy here.