Since 2000, Afrika United has won the league championship twice and the league cup three times. Three players from Afrika United have gone on to sign professional contracts and several current players have professional aspirations. On average, the team has about 30 players from Africa, China, and other nations.

At the beginning of the documentary, it outlined that most African came to China as diplomats, business people, teachers and students. In a city like Beijing you can see the influence of western lifestyle, but the city is short of the elements of African cultures. Playing football in Afrika United every weekend is “like going home every week,” Sam Ahadu,he assistant coach said to the camera.

　　Ahadu is the Assistant Coach of Afrika United and is one of the strongest personalities in the film. He came to Beijing from Ethiopia in 1997 and lives here with his wife and two children. He has been involved with Afrika United since 2000. He said, “In China there are many misconceptions about Africans, some that are based in reality and many that are not and it is good for people to be ble to associate Africans with winners.”

　　Coach Kagashani said that the team “helps create unity among local Africans and represent the continent in a positive way.”

　　The majority of the team is made up of students along with the four working members who have traditionally supported the team. And Afrika United is facing the end if it finds no new sponsorship or other funding.

The film closed with a warm round of applause from the spectators in Yugong Yishan. The film sparked conversations about African life in Beijing and many people bought DVDs and posters to support the team.

Evan Brown, a Science, Technology and Society major at Stanford University, went to see the movie because he was interested in learning more about the lives of Africans in China. He thought that “the movie was inspiring,” and “liked how acclimated the team was to Chinese culture - their lange skills, that they eat at Chinese restaurants, their strong relationships with Chinese people,” and thought “that the movie did a good job of breaking down stereotypes about African men by portraying them as being ve open-minded and adaptable.”

The documentary has been screened twice. There were over 100 people in the audience for the first screening three months ago and over 60 on this occasion. Goldkorn, the co-producer said, “700 yuan from revenues and selling DVDs will go to Afrika United,” Goldkorn said that the producers would like to add Chinese subtitles o the film and broadcast it through the Chinese media. Hopefully, the film will continue to promote Afrika United and help keep African boots in Beijing.

See the original article on Beijing Today's web site.