WORLD CLASS

I've watched Paul with an eagle eye and an inquisitive mind over these last ten months while writing his story. He doesn't like it when I call him a world class soccer coach. Maybe I don't understand the true meaning of world class. So... I've employed a few of Gibbo's own Black Country words to define what I know to be true about him.

I'll start with Bostin. I like that word. I had never heard it before he came into my world. I thought it was something he made up, but I have since found it to be one of the best, most expressive words for outstanding. Besides, it has an "English" ring that I like. Then there's the word, brilliant. He uses it a lot, but only in the superlative and when he means outstanding. His coaching skills and techniques are brilliant and the way he reaches to the heart of young people the world over is, indeed, world class. He may not speak their language or their dialect, but his eyes and actions of the heart speak directly to the moment. And they love him. They love him because they have an uncanny built-in God-given mechanism that helps them understand that he loves them right back. Children respond to intellect, but so much more to love and regard. That's Gibbo's forte.


Only a world class soccer coach could get to Botswana to make a contribution that will likely affect those young people the rest of their lives, I thought, sitting on the opposite side of Planet Earth from Gibbo those three weeks. I tried to visualize how it might have been so I could write it, but never mind, when he returned, he had it down pat and with all the ease in the world, dictated that chapter of his life. 

Out of the abundance of new friends and joined by colleagues from other parts of the world, those present at Coaching for Conservation in Botswana, Africa, found yet another world class partner—Lesley Boggs, Director of Coaching for Conservation. It was through her efforts and due diligence that Gibbo and the other coaches were there. 


These are Lesley's words:

I had never met Paul "Gibbo" Gibbons when I called him from Botswana on skype (at the recommendation of Nick Gates from Coaches across Continents) to ask if he might be interested in spending three weeks in Botswana helping run our annual Coaching for Conservation program. I explained that C4C was a conservation program that uses soccer to engage kids, and that I needed someone to lead the soccer component—first teaching coaches and then overseeing the program for 700 kids that translates cool animal behaviors into related soccer skills. He would be one of three coaches: a professional soccer coach (him) an animal coach (virtual) and a conservation coach (a professional educator).  He laughed, and with a pause of no longer than ten seconds, said "I'm in!"

 

When Paul arrived, we went straight to our wildlife research field camp for a five-day initiation and training. I attempted to brief him on that two hour drive into camp, and realized early that my skype introduction had been vague and he actually had no clue what I needed him to do. He had to learn our entire curriculum including animal behaviours, translating them into football skills, training the local coaches to teach the drills. 

During the next week, he would be overseeing the football program  for 700 kids. "Is that all?" he muttered. "Guess we better get started!"  Like a kid in a candy store, Paul took in all the experiences of the African bush with enthusiasm. It was a thrill for him to get up in the morning and learn that the lions had milled about his tent the night before. And at first light of a morning to see the giraffe at the waterhole. He said very little, pinched himself now and then, and smiled a lot.

 

The annual program was a gigantic success. Paul accomplished the task and more. Within five days he learned it himself, gained the respect and confidence of all the local coaches and taught them the drills. He found his way into the hearts of our whole C4C team (more than 25 local and international volunteers), and by the end of the following week, flocks of children were following him around the field chanting his name— "Gib-bo, Gib-bo! We love you, Gibbo!"

 

Not everyone gets it. But Paul, in a quiet, caring, and gracious way, simply fell into step and put into place the pieces of the puzzle that were missing to make the parts of the whole come together.  His eyes give away his warm heart and we are most grateful. We look forward to next July already to hear the chants of "Gibbo, Gibbo..."

Lesley Boggs, Director
Coaching for Conservation