The University of Akron Athletics
Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2017
- Class:
- 1973
1969-72
Halfback
It is a wonder and full of extenuating circumstances that Eugene Alfred ever found his way from Abadan, Nigeria, to The University of Akron. Alfred had gotten to play plenty of soccer playing experience in high school and on the Nigeria Junior team. In 1968, he had already enrolled at Lagos University when a friend of his dad, who worked in the U.S. Consulate General Office, got Alfred admitted to Utah State University on an academic scholarship. Bad mistake, no soccer.
After one semester, Alfred was out of there and off to Columbus, Ohio, to stay with a cousin at Ohio State. OSU was too big for his liking, so his cousin took him to visit the campuses of Ohio University and Akron.
Without making a choice, Alfred then moved to Cleveland with a friend of his cousin where he got a job and played all summer in a local soccer league of Yugoslavians and Italians. Someone called UA Hall of Fame Coach Stu Parry about Alfred’s talents and Parry invited him to come to Akron for a trial. Of course Alfred passed the test and went on to having an outstanding four-year career that won him All-America honors.
The 6-0, 165-lb. Alfred didn’t waste any time adjusting to the college game as he quickly earned the starting right halfback position that he held all four seasons. From that position, he was essentially a link between the defense and the attack. He spent much of his time as an outstanding defender and, occasionally, going forward to become an extra man on the attack. That 1969 season saw Alfred selected as recipient of the Zips’ Most Outstanding Player Award, a first-team All-Ohio, and an honorable mention All-Midwest pick as he helped UA compile an 8-4 record. Interestingly, Alfred only scored two goals and had three assists, which was the largest offensive display of his UA career. He ended his four seasons with just six goals and eight assists.
By his sophomore season, Parry had retired as the father of Zip soccer, and Alfred was now playing for head coach Bill Killen. As a sophomore halfback, Alfred performed well enough to be selected first team on both the All-Ohio and All-Midwest squads and then was accorded 1970 All-America Honorable Mention accolades as he helped UA earn an NCAA I Tournament berth while compiling an 8-5-1 record. The Zips earned an NCAA Tourney bid and it lost to No. 1- ranked St. Louis.
In 1971, he helped UA capture its 10th Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association title and another postseason NCAA I Tournament berth with a 9-3-3 record.
As a senior in 1972, Alfred and his Zip teammates put together a 9-3-2 campaign that earned them their third straight NCAA Tournament bid.
Alfred left Akron to earn his master’s degree in political economy at Eastern New Mexico University and then received an M.B.A. at the American Graduate School for International Management in Glendale, Ariz., before returning to Nigeria in 1975.
