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Profile
Jean-Paul Abalo Yaovi is the captain and elder statesman of the Togo
national side. Thirty-one years old on 26 June 2006, he has been a
mainstay of the Sparrow Hawks' defence for more than a decade - a
longevity partly attributable to his easy-going nature.
Like most young Africans, he first kicked a ball at school and in the
street. And while his family made plans for him to enter the civil
service, young Jean-Paul had other ideas. He began his professional
playing career at Agaza FC in Lome, after being spotted playing in local
tournaments.
He then caught the eye of French talent scouts during a Togo youth team
tour of France, and was signed by Saint-Christophe, a small club near
Chateauroux, while still a teenager. Two seasons later, he moved to
Amiens Sporting Club, a French second division side.
The defender spent a decade with Amiens, during which time he shared in
the highest and lowest points in the club's history; the French Cup
Final in 2001 and relegation to the French National League (French Third
Division) in 2000, respectively. Ironically, it was in the summer of
2005, when his international performances were helping to take Togo to
the FIFA World Cup finals, that his contract at Amiens was not renewed
and Abolo found himself a free agent.
After trials in France and Belgium, he eventually signed for Dunkirk, an
amateur club based in the north of France. Here the Togolese
international put his wealth of experience to good effect, training
youth team players and even turning out for the reserves on occasion.
His amiable demeanour meant Dunkirk did not stand in his way when the
opportunity came for him to join the Cypriot club Apoel Nicosia last
March.
The experienced Abalo is by far and away the Sparrow Hawks' most-capped
player, with almost a century of appearances under his belt. Showing
exemplary enthusiasm, he has never turned down the opportunity to turn
out for his country, even during times when he himself was criticising a
certain lack of organisation.
Having taken part in three African Nations Cup tournaments, and alsohe
played for his country's historic first FIFA World Cup finals in
Germany. |
