The Away Game by Sebastian Abbot
The gripping story of a group of boys discovered in what may be the largest talent search in sports history.
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
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
Sebastian Abbot worked for the Associated Press in Cairo and Islamabad, where he was bureau chief. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Princeton University and a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He lives in New York.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780393292206 |
| ISBN 10 | 0393292207 |
| Title | The Away Game |
| Author | Sebastian Abbot |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | WW Norton & Co |
| Year published | 2019-10-14 |
| Number of pages | 304 |
| Prizes | Long-listed for PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports Writing 2019 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |