Foreword to The Global Art of Soccer, by 1974 World Cup star Emmanuel Sanon:
“Soccer has been a big part of my life, and I even wrote two books about my experiences. But when I read this book by Richard Witzig, it further established in my mind just how important soccer is in our world.
Primarily an inspiring book on soccer art, The Global Art of Soccer delves deeper into what soccer means for the human experience. At the same time, Richard has researched new and important history of the game that should not be ignored, lest we repeat our mistakes.
Each chapter of the book takes the reader beyond the game itself, where issues that in the past were considered taboo are depicted in great extent, for example: intolerance, politics, international conflicts, xenophobia, and exclusiveness. Dr. Witzig’s chapter on soccer injury and illness crystallizes exactly how critical soccer is for human development, as soccer is the only world sport that can make a significant positive impact on the HIV/AIDS epidemic. People are dying, and soccer power can deliver the necessary education for relief of suffering for individuals and communities.
Richard also nicely lays out the developments of recent FIFA World Cups, and makes a succinct case for the best players and teams in the Modern Era (1958-2006). He then tackles the hidden history of the 1936 “Nazi” Olympic soccer tournament, another example of how soccer could have helped humanity in a time of need. His chapters on soccer in unusual environments and his own soccer odyssey are also fascinating.
Finally, he takes on the future of the game, and the nearly limitless possibilities of how soccer can help improve the world.
This book is aimed at the soccer fan intent on exploring the important dynamics of soccer in the world. If you are such a person, you are in for a singular and spellbinding ride.
And yes, even though I was a serious player, I am still a very serious fan, and very anxious to maximize the potential of the sport I love. For that I am grateful for the contributions Richard has made in the writing of The Global Art of Soccer.”
Signed,
Emmanuel “Manno” Sanon
Profile of Emmanuel Sanon
Emmanuel “Manno” Sanon played for the Haitian national team from 1969-1977. During a four-year period, Sanon scored 47 goals for Haiti, and he was the leading scorer in the 1973 CONCACAF tournament that qualified Haiti for the 1974 West Germany World Cup.
In West Germany, Haiti was drawn in the “Group of Death” comprising Italy, Argentina, and Poland. The semi-professional Haitians were sometimes outmatched against the other professional teams, but still Sanon managed to break Italy goalkeeper Dino Zoff’s record streak of twelve consecutive games without a goal conceded, after he rounded the stellar goalkeeper in scoring one of the goals of the tournament (he also scored against Argentina). Sanon then turned professional and played for Beerschot in Belgium and the San Diego Sockers in the USA.
In 1994, Sanon was voted to France Football’s Top 100 World Cup Players from 1930-1990 ("Les 100 Héros de la Coupe du Monde").
He managed the Haitian national team in 1999-2000, and was voted the Haitian Athlete of the Century. Manno Sanon’s two books are “Toup Pou Yo” [“Take That,” the rallying song of the Haitian team during the 1974 World Cup] Part One & Part Two, and he maintains a superb Haitian football website at www.haitifoot.com.
