Photo by Kokou Tadegnon

Etry Akoly, known as ‘The Ball Doctor’, makes hand-crafted footballs in a small studio in Lome, Togo. He uses only local materials and employs his brother to help with the construction of the balls.

Soccer enthusiasts in the area flock to The Ball Doctor for repairs, or whenever they want to purchase one of his handmade creations. To have such a personalized service makes them proud to support the business.

When not busy at work in his shop, Akoly likes to watch the locals playing soccer using one of the balls he has made. In the dusty streets of Lome, aspiring footballers can often be found kicking a ball about or organizing matches where they can showcase their talent.

With the FIFA World Cup on the horizon, and soccer at the forefront of many people’s minds, The Ball Doctor is hopeful that there will be an increased demand for his hand-stitched, unique footballs.

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Publication rights to this feature are available from Africa Media Online.