Gyau to leave no stone – or sand – unturned
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By HOWARD MANN
Philip Gyau has a long road ahead in rebuilding Howard’s men’s soccer program. But that doesn’t mean going to the beach is off-limits. He was there two days before he landed the job and he’ll go back if it can help the team.
“I used some of the training methods from beach soccer with youth teams all the time – and I had players who went on to become national team players,” he told Boxscore News during CONCACAF’s first-ever beach soccer coaching course, at Fort Lauderdale, Fla. “It teaches you to control the ball in the air, to gain a close control … the technical skills are certainly very useful.”
Gray, 48, will use every tool at his disposal to lead the Bison back to the national prominence they once enjoyed. The heyday ended before he arrived on campus, but he’s well aware of the history – as is Howard’s interim president Wayne Frederick, team manager when the Bison advanced to the 1988 NCAA title game.
“It’s extremely important to rebuild the soccer team because we have a strong history of success,” Frederick said during Gyau’s introductory press conference. “My first impression of athletics here was one of excellence.”
Gyau was “saddened” to watch Howard drop so far, 1-17-0 last season and ranked dead last among Division I’s 203 teams. “This school game me everything,” he said. “I want to give back.”
