Amherst's Adoboe works soccer magic
by Andrew Ayres
Daily Hampshire Gazette
Thurs. Jan. 28, 1999

Ferdie Adoboe of Amherst, a local soccer guru, native of Ghana and fixture on the soccer scene, just may have juggled himself into the record books.

Adoboe, 35, is believed to have set a record for speed juggling of a soccer ball. During a large youth soccer tournament Jan. 22 in Tucson, Ariz., he sent the ball aloft with his foot 136 times in 30 seconds, and 263 times in one minute. Both are records.

"I may have the record for a while but I won't have it for too long," Adoboe predicted.

Those specialized soccer skills are slated to be added to his current listing in the Guinness Book of World Records for running backwards.

For several years, he has held the backwards 100-yard record (12.7 seconds) and the backwards 100-meters (13.6).

Adoboe has been lobbying Guinness to add the juggling skill, which he teaches to soccer players for improved ball control. The skill of rapid tapping of the ball on the top of the foot.

The founder of Soccer Magic Academy was sponsored by the sporting goods manufacturer Brine to go to Arizona for one of his skills clinics.

Irene Fernandez, an organizer of the soccer event that drew 5,800 youth soccer players, said she looked on in awe at Adoboe.

"It's not even human to have that kind of control with your foot," Fernandez said. "You don't even believe it's happening." That kind of feat with the feet takes a toll. Adoboe, a former University of massachusetts player who also plays summer ball with Inter-Amherst, said Tuesday night he's still getting over the pain in his hip flexor and gluteus maximus.

Fernandez has been in contact with the Guinness representatives. Tapes of the event from a Tucson television station have been sent to records keepers.

Adoboe has always had a lot on the ball. He teaches the skills through his Soccer Magic clinics. He said the records for high school-age players are held by Mike O'Malley of Longmeadow (now at AIC), who did it 122 times in 30 seconds, while Mary McVeigh of Northampton had 72 touches in 30 seconds.

Adoboe said that those interested in learning more about speed juggling can find it on the worldwide web at www.soccer-magic.com