abdoulaye bah
char·ac·ter ~ the way someone thinks, feels, and behaves; qualities of honesty, courage, or integrity
It’s no secret I am partial to sports, fitness and generally speaking an athlete’s mentality—what it does for one’s character in accountability, motivation, accomplishment, competition, fun...the list goes on.
Often it is a coach who plays a CRUCIAL role in shaping a love or push of athleticism early on. My kids have had a few incredible ones – but today I’m singling out Abdoulaye Bah, who parachuted in at just the right time for my middle daughter (and probably several others).
Middle school years are NOT easy - for kids or parents (IYKYK). Parents frequently show up to get a Grade A attitude slap in the face (so I hear…). My parental view is keep showing up (give it back sometimes), and hopefully get those little demons in the hands of a great coach, teacher or another adult they can idolize while they’re on sabbatical from mom and dad AND simultaneously forming the kind of human they will become.
Enter Coach Bah, a 6ft7 French Guinean man who towers over a soccer team of pre-teen girls with kindness and positivity while instilling the importance of accountability, doing your best and striving to WIN. A gentle giant, who quietly doesn’t take any sh*t and they all love + respect him? HOLY JESUS.
Before I ever met Coach Bah, I already was obsessed with his weekly coach notes that I would often share with friends…
‘It's okay you got it’ - Biella Feeney
“…remember this is a winning statement. This is the attitude we want… Always cheer for the person next to you and bring a positive energy in any environment you are in” he would write.
Somewhere between channeling the Dalai Lama and Muhammad Ali, he consistently underscores his values on effort, discipline and courage with a coaching philosophy based on fun and progress.
Clearly, Coach Bah has had many coaches and wins that shaped his incredible demeanor and exemplary leadership - I think. Well here’s a kicker… turns out he’s been the most motivated by bad coaches. He’s found he holds himself to a higher standard often by observing things others could do better. And he’s faced a considerable amount of disappointments in his athletic career that he has turned into a positive opportunity every time.
Born and raised in Paris, Coach Bah is #3 of six siblings and started playing soccer at three-years-old. His mom and dad - who he lights up about when mentioning either - met in Guinea and immigrated to France before he was born. When he was 12, his parents split up, causing a town move from his school and friends- and a considerably hard time for him. His mom would eventually change his school again - a game changer, where he found life-long friends to this day. The close-knit group included Rayane, a friend who took him under his wing, and got him to join a new soccer club.
By the time he was finishing high school he was recruited to The Red Star Professional Football Club –but they backed out – an upsetting blow rattling his confidence. Throughout university years he’d try again—coming stateside and playing for McKendree University and then Oklahoma Baptist University. Each time facing significant coaching and situational challenges. And each time picking himself up and pushing forward. During COVID, he returned home to France, where he would start to play throughout Europe and land an agent, securing his second shot at pro. A week before he was to sign, he would tear his ACL. I am stunned when he shares this. Not by the seeming devastation, but by the sheer character he has and how this has all shaped his path in the type of human and coach he is.
He spoke about how in life things can change a lot but that it’s the small values in how you act like being on time and showing up - the daily goals you live by that give you the results you want.
Coach Bah went back to Guinea in 2022, playing on the streets of a third world country he’d been to twice before. It was here he realized he just wants to play and be a part of the game. That no matter what, you always have the opportunity to move forward and do something else. For him that is coaching. His dream? Maybe even taking Guinea to the World Cup for the first time someday…xop
the picks
give
The Garcons FC Soccer Club(Go Fund Me/$5) Coach Bah has been getting involved with this Brooklyn based, West African refugee soccer club. Watch the vid for sure. They need 6k more so if whatever you can swing is great.
watch
Blacklist (Netflix Series/10 Seasons) Bah doesn’t watch a lot of TV, but he’s currently into this series, featuring James Spader as a brilliant clever fugitive working with the FBI (sorta). I watched this back in its NBC days and can concur Spader is indeed a character who somehow exudes character as a criminal.
read
Ben Lyttleton (British Football Journalist) Predictably Coach Bah is into a book called Manager United by this author but alas it’s in French? Here is a link to another book called the Edge (what business can learn from football)
listen
Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett (podcast series) Ok these episodes look long at 2 hours but if Bah says so, I listen. As do the 6+million Youtube subscribers. Interviews span across Richard Branson, Rebel Wilson, Adam Grant and so many more.
try
Riz Gras (Thiep) (rice dish)This west african rice dish or “African Paella,” Bah get very HAPPY about in describing. Apparently his character doesn’t extend to cooking though because when I asked for a recipe he laughed at me, “ah, no, paige, find a restaurant or somewhere that serves it…”
