Up Coach: The Story of A Soccer Missionary

F. A. coach, Alan Hawkes, wanted more from soccer than running semi professional clubs. How the extrovert former Royal Marine from the Black Country achieved it in six years in Nigeria is a remarkable story. It was a voyage of discovery in a strange land. He mixed madcap moments with flashes of frustration and genuine fear during his battle to impose his ideas on players who had never seen anything like him. He had to learn never to take 'No' for an answer as he went through the difficult early period of dealing with players unused to accepting new ideas and discipline. Through it all he settles himself, his wife and daughter into the expatriate ways of Ibadan with a social life centred on the golf club. His constant search for talent and success in getting players to absorb his coaching systems bore fruit. Trophies came his way. The ultimate came when Hawkes, now 80, saw his team qualify for all African competition and they became regular faces at airports and hotels.Finally, they became the first Nigerian side to win an African trophy.

Author: Segun Odegbami

Publisher: Independently Published

Publication Date: 43401

Number of Pages: 298 pages

Binding: Biography & Autobiography

ISBN-10:

ISBN-13: 9798301397219