Born to parents who had eleven children, Sam’s childhood was disrupted, when he was only 9 years old, by a civil war that engulfed his entire nation. It lasted eleven years, taking the lives of over one hundred and twenty thousand innocent people, including some of Sam’s own family members and friends.

 

By the age of thirteen, Sam found himself competing in a strange sport (Tennis) that he once thought was only played by rich, white people. His dream was to win the biggest prize of qualifying for the Sierra Leone Junior (under 18) National Team and use the two hundred and fifty dollars allowance money to feed his family and pay his school fees. This dream was shattered time after time.

 

 

In this fascinating, true story, ’How Tennis Saved My Life’, Sam gives a mind-blowing account of his experiences during the war, of his family's and friends' harsh existence and how they survived what life and man threw at them. Sam takes us on a gripping journey from his birth to manhood, through experiences, ranging from extreme despair to heart-warming triumph. Indeed, Sam has resiliently zig-zagged his way through a life of countless catastrophes and some opportune blessings, and he has lived to tell his story. This inspirational read has something to offer everyone and is a real eye-opener for those fortunate enough not to have encountered these sorts of adversities in their lives. It is often the case that we only truly value life upon having faced a close call - then boom - many of the things we took for granted become the most important, precious things in our lives. 

 

In his own words, Sam shares his dogged determination and will to endure pain, to plough through dangers and to fight to stay alive, in order to see one more sunrise, one more day and to smile one more time at his beloved Mum.

 

Today, Sam enjoys his career as an International Tennis Coach touring with players from all over the planet. As a physical, nutritional and Mind Growth coach, he plumbs his own experiences of adversity and precarious survival to inspire his students, and his readers, to succeed in their goals and meet their full potential. Sam's story has been published in more than 120 countries worldwide, on Television, news papers, radios, podcast, magazines etc.

 

Across the world, Europe, Middle East, Africa, USA and Australia, Sam's motivational presentations hearten and exhilarate people of all ages with reflections on his life's journey, his family and how tennis saved his life.