Balancing sports and academics is tough but not impossible. If footballers don’t plan for life after football they are likely to experience problems such as poverty, unemployability, psychological crisis, loss of identity, substance abuse among other issues.
This article covers some of the footballers who have perfectly juggled between education and football
Socrates Brasileiro
Socrates was a Brazilian footballer considered one of the best midfielders of the game. His doctorate in Medicine and his political awareness earned him the nickname “Doctor” Socrates. On the field, his talented and sophisticated passes made him a genius. He was the Captain of the Brazilian team in the 1982 world cup in Spain. He was a columnist for several newspapers and magazines, writing not only about sports but also politics and economics. At the time of his death, he was writing a book about the 2014 world cup.
Vincent Kompany
The celebrated player enjoys the lifestyle which comes with being a modern millionaire footballer. Despite rising to the top of his sport, the Belgian remains committed to education. Vincent Kompany has been a Captain for both Manchester City and the Belgian National team. He graduated with a Master’s in Business Administration on December 29, 2017, at the Alliance Manchester Business School.
JJ Masiga
JJ Masiga is the only player in Kenya to captain both the national team for soccer and rugby. The super striker who graduated from UoN with a degree in dentistry was a crucial player for Harambee Stars and AFC Leopards. He also captained AFC Leopards in their glory days. In the 1980 CECAFA Club Cup, he had to leave Malawi just in the middle of the tournament, catch a flight to sit for his final examination at UoN, get back to Malawi, just in time for the final against Gor Mahia and score Leopards two goals. Sadly they lost.
Nahashon “Lule” Oluoch
An excellent dribbler, perfect vision and accurate passing, Nahashon “Lule” Oluoch was a form four student at Highway Secondary School in 1979 playing for Gor Mahia. That year Gor Mahia reached the finals of the Africa Winners’ Cup and won the National League. The Kenya press dubbed him the schoolboy wonder boy. Lule was named part of the top 10 players on the continent in 1979 by CAF. He was still in secondary school. Lule and fellow Gor Mahia player Sammy “Kempes” Owino left for the USA on a football scholarship in 1982 and joined Alabama A&M University in the USA. He returned to Kenya in 1989 and took the position of a lecturer at Egerton University. His compatriot Sammy “Kempes” Owino attained a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and launched his own club Texas lighting a professional team
