Podcast: Managing Matabeleland

Matabeleland at the CONIFA World Cup 2018 [Credit: Chris Hansen and CONIFA]

We talk to football coach and writer Justin Walley about the fascinating story that he chronicles in his new book, One Football, No Nets. The book covers Justin’s experience managing Matabeleland – a region of Zimbabwe – to the CONIFA World Football Cup in London in 2018. He risks arrest under the Mugabe regime, recruits Liverpool legend Bruce Grobbelaar as goalkeeping coach, and faces a last-minute dash for visas to get the team ready for London.

In One Football, No Nets, Walley really opens up to the impact the Matabeleland role has on his personal life, and is written in diary form so it’s very easy for the reader to digest in bite-sized chunks.

Bruce Grobbelaar and Justin Walley (R) after the former Liverpool goalkeeper comes on board to help Matabeleland at the CONIFA World Football Cup 2018 [Credit: Justin Walley]

We also discuss why an African team is yet to get beyond the quarter-finals of the World Cup and also discuss groundhopping in Latvia, where Walley has coached and even set up clubs.

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