African Sports Monthly JUNE 2019 ISSUE I Vol 2 | Page 7

AFRICAN SPORTS MONTHLY   JUNE 2019 | P7 African Sports Monthly was able to catch up with Coach Ahmad Sasso to get a feel for how far he has come in building the next generation of Soccer Talents in the USA and how his brilliant mind works … ASM : You have a solid history as a player before you became this beloved Coach and Talent Development Specialist in the Soccer Business in the USA. Give us a bird’s eye view of who Ahmad Sasso the Pro Soccer Player was back in the day … structured soccer with top clubs as well, and I always admired and looked up to a lot of quality players in the system. ASM: Your Love and Passion for Soccer is renowned and well known. How did you get involved with the Sport in Maryland USA that has today made you this renowned Coach and Talent Developer? Coach Sasso With Sierra Leone Soccer Legend Mohamed Kallon Ahmad Sasso : I thank you guys for reaching out. I was a normal kid who has always loved the game and I started playing from a very young age. My dad and uncles played and ran several clubs back home in Sierra Leone, which made it easier for me to get involved. I was known as a very smart player. I went through the soccer system in Sierra Leone, which helped me develop very well. By that, I mean; I spent my developmental years playing street soccer (mini leagues) and  Ahmad Sasso: Well when I first visited the United States from Lebanon where I was playing then, I connected with my Old Edwardians (Division II) former teammates and close friend in Festus George, who was already a coach here. I started working with him in the early 2000s through a company called Golden Boot Soccer. We were sent to different fields to work with kid’s ages 8-14, mostly in technical training. I was very new and even though I was a pro player, I had no clue how to coach and train other players. But through my friends’ support and observation, I learned how to take my playing knowledge and apply it to coaching and training. I enjoyed it and am passionate about the sport, so it doesn’t seem like work. It was always my dream to pay it forward. After that short visit, Festus convinced me and I decided that this was what I wanted to do as I can give my best while enjoying it also. Continue reading on page > 8 ISSUE I • VOL2 • JUNE 2019