Queensborough Alum and Star Athlete Named Head Coach of Men’s Soccer Team
Aziwoh Ayafor, ‘08, has been named Head Coach of Queensborough’s Men’s Soccer Team. Student Athletics Director Jon Hochberg chose Aziwoh for his coaching ability, athleticism and long track record—eight years— as Assistant Coach for Queensborough’s Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track, Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track and Men’s and Women’s Cross Country.
The Men’s soccer season officially began on September 5 with a 3-2 loss against Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC). “This game showed our resolve because we played with one man down for 65 minutes. We really have a great team and an excellent chance to compete for the CUNY championship.”
Aziwoh Ayafor graduated from Queensborough Community College in 2008 with an Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology. While at Queensborough, Aziwoh thrived in his studies with a 3.2 G.P.A. and, in 2006, was named Most Valued Player on both the soccer and track & field teams.
Aziwoh is originally from Cameroon, a country known as “Africa in miniature” due to its remarkable diversity. Cameroon takes great pride in cultivating competitive athletic teams in many sports including canoe racing, swimming, tug of war and wrestling. However, the country’s most popular sport by far is soccer, or “football” as it is called in Cameroon and nearly every other country outside the U.S.
Aziwoh has been playing soccer for most of his life. When he arrived in the U.S. in 2002, he played left back and left wing on Jamaica High School’s soccer team and was a sprinter on the school’s track & field team.
Upon graduation from Queensborough, Aziwoh went on to Farmingdale State College (SUNY) where he obtained his Baccalaureate degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology in 2011. As a student at Farmingdale, he worked at a mechanical engineering company but knew in his heart that he wanted to return to Queensborough to build a career he was passionate about, with the people who had inspired him through the years.
Aziwoh expressed his gratitude to the many people who have supported and encouraged him, especially Chris Omeltchenko, Head Coach of Men’s Track and Field, Former Athletic Director Pete Marchitello, and current Athletic Director Jon Hochberg.
“There are obviously fundamental principles in virtually any competitive sport, which is to counter attack the strategy of the opposing team. But my coaching style also focuses on the importance of the unspoken connection of team chemistry. I make sure that in addition to lots of practice we have meetings afterwards to talk about the game and other issues. This strategy helps the team stay close and to understand one another beyond the field.”
Aziwoh continues to practice and to strive for success. In addition to his other accolades he has earned four Track and Field Coaching certificates, as well as certification from the National Federation of Professional Trainers (NFPT) Fitness Nutrition and Personal Trainer. Currently, Aziwoh is enrolled in a Master’s program in Health and Exercise Science at American Public University (APU).
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