Description
Book SynopsisThe gripping story of a group of boys discovered in what may be the largest talent search in sports history.
Trade Review"Engrossing. . . . A masterful account of the drama and science of scouting [and] a lively evocation of football mania in Africa." -- The Economist
"Masterfully weaves together the stories of boys from a renowned soccer academy in Doha in an illuminating narrative." -- Sports Illustrated
"Follows a group of teenagers plucked from the dirt fields of Africa and swept up in the international soccer machine for a chance at stardom." -- Men's Journal
"A sobering look at the realities of the pursuit of big-time sporting opportunities." -- Kirkus (starred review)
"[
The Away Game] follows the fortunes of three young African players who participated in the Qatari [Football Dreams] program and for whom soccer represented a ticket out of poverty. . . . An excellent introduction to this shady world.”" -- Nicolas van de Walle - Foreign Affairs
"Every fan of international soccer must read
The Away Game. It shows how soccer stars are made, and it captures the desperation and the pain behind African footballers’ search for fame and money in the Middle East and Europe." -- Helon Habila, author of Oil on Water and The Chibok Girls
"What a fantastic story: a soccer-themed mix of
Hoop Dreams and
The Sports Gene, told with surpassing empathy for the boys of Senegal, Ghana, and other African countries involved. Sebastian Abbot knows his soccer, but
The Away Game is a tale with universal appeal to anyone who cares about the human condition." -- Grant Wahl, author of The Beckham Experiment
"An exhilarating, at times heartbreaking, and ultimately unforgettable journey that lays bare the true human stakes of the world’s most popular game." -- Warren St. John, author of Outcasts United
