Big Sky Documentary Film Festival 2009

Emmanuel Ekeigwe is an immigrant of Nigerian descent. Having arrived in Austria in 2001 the former professional football player immediately decided to go about pursuing his beloved profession and try his luck in Viennese soccer. His initial enthusiasm was soon slowed down by encounters with native soccer players and their provisos towards people of other skin color. After several throwbacks Emanuel Ekeigwe decided to found his own soccer team, solely for African immigrants: the “New African Football Academy”. Since 2005 this team is fighting for its place in Austrian society and has managed to become well accepted by most other teams in the Vienna football league. But still life as an African originated soccer player remains tough and various hurdles have to be tackled. Africa11 is an on-sight inspection of NAFA, introducing its three key protagonists: Emmanuel Ekeigwe, president and founder of NAFA, Walter Nekham, Austrian originated trainer and Charles Orisakwe, captain of NAFA. Crux of the film is a license control on the field, which causes great disturbance among NAFA’s players…