Long-shots Burkina Faso have made it to the African Cup of Nations Final – how many of them are destined for the major European leagues? (Image | Fifa.com)
In the opening monologue of the movie, Jerry Maguire, Tom Cruise elucidates about the bristling excitement that comes with unearthing new sporting talent. Think of the anticipation that was palpable with the arrivals of Rory McIlroy, Andrew Luck or Lewis Hamilton onto the sporting scene. But the monologue comes with a warning, “There’s genius everywhere, but until they turn pro, it’s like popcorn in a pan. Some pop. Some don’t.”
As we reach the closing stages of the 2013 African Cup of Nations, this paradigm is particularly pertinent.
