The transnational prosocial activities of elite African footballers: an exploratory study of the costs and the benefits

Abstract

This paper explored the costs and the benefits of elite African players’ prosocial activities in their home countries. Through the players’ Twitter and Instagram posts and qualitative interviews, their prosocial activities were examined with regard to the costs and benefits for their career and life courses. The findings show that African players’ transnational prosocial acts are both altruistic (placing costs) and mutualistic (generating benefits). This exploratory paper adds to the existing literature by pointing out both the material and non-material consequences of players’ transnational social responsibility activities. Further, it reveals the complex implications of these practices. For example, while participation in the national team is often viewed primarily from the perspective of positive and beneficial contributions to players’ careers, it may also pose a very significant cost to African players, as they risk jeopardising their club careers. The practical implication of this study is that football governing bodies need to do more to eliminate administrative practices that discriminate against players based on their nationality and also ensure that African players who choose to honour national team duties are protected from undue disadvantages at their clubs arising from their international duties.