Laughter, Leather and Losses by Calvin Emeka Onwuka

Laughter, Leather & Losses is the life story of Calvin ‘Emeka Onwuka, told through the lens of his love for the round leather game and ardent support of the Nigerian national teams. It charts the contemporaneous rise, plateau and decline of Nigeria and her football. 

Starting in the buzz of Ojuelegba, to sedate Festac Town in Lagos Nigeria, and eventually berthing in the United Kingdom, we follow Calvin as he navigates life and all that comes with it. From the heartbreak of Nigeria missing out on Argentina ’78 and Espana ’82, to the thrill of lifting AFCON 2013, and listening to Flavour and D’Banj at stadiums in South Africa, Calvin shares a panoramic view of his life for all to see.

The book traces the author’s life as a kid and his resolve to play football in spite of his father’s objections and inevitable punishment, from the playgrounds of Festac Town to winning a shirt in Coventry City FC, to representing his country at the World Universities Games in Sheffield, and the crushing disappointment of early retirement from the game as a result of injury. We learn of his encounter with the radio-rich voices of famous commentators like Ernest Okonkwo and Sebastain Offurum, his interactions with Nigerian football greats, meeting Bryan Robson, and the special relationship he shared with Stephen “Big Boss” Okechukwu Keshi. 

Laughter, Leather & Losses also explores the author’s faith, moulded under the leadership of Bishop Mike Okonkow of the Redeemed Evangelical Mission, finding love, fatherhood and commentating on a worldwide platform.

Laughter, Leather and Losses is not a “How I made it” book. It is a recollectionof the author’s coming of age with the game he is passionate about.