un ▁played ▁at ▁both ▁professional ▁and ▁international ▁levels ▁as ▁a ▁stri ker , ▁before ▁becoming ▁Africa ' s ▁first ▁qualified ▁professional ▁football ▁coach . ▁ ▁Career ▁ ▁Play ing ▁career ▁Edu c ated ▁in ▁Port ▁Har court ▁and ▁gradu ating ▁from ▁St . ▁Mary ' s ▁Catholic ▁School , ▁Bal og un ▁played ▁in ▁his ▁native ▁Niger ia ▁for ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁teams , ▁including ▁Ap apa ▁Bom bers , ▁Marine ▁Athletics , ▁U AC ▁XI , ▁Rail ways ▁XI , ▁Jos ▁XI , ▁Pan ▁Bank ▁Team , ▁Dynam os ▁Club ▁and ▁S CO A ▁XI . ▁During ▁his ▁time ▁in ▁Niger ia , ▁Bal og un ▁won ▁the ▁Challenge ▁Cup ▁a ▁total ▁of ▁five ▁times ▁in ▁seven ▁final s . ▁He ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁player ▁to ▁have ▁a ▁hat - tr ick ▁in ▁the ▁competition , ▁in ▁Pan ▁Bank ' s ▁ 6 - 1 ▁rout ▁of ▁War ri ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 3 . ▁After ▁originally ▁tour ing ▁with ▁a ▁Niger ian ▁select ▁team ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 9 , ▁Bal og un ▁returned ▁to ▁the ▁UK ▁in ▁August ▁ 1 9 5 5 ▁to ▁sign ▁with ▁Peter borough ▁United . ▁However , ▁Bal og un ▁never ▁made ▁a ▁league ▁appearance ▁for ▁Peter borough , ▁and ▁spent ▁time ▁with ▁Sk eg ness ▁Town ▁before ▁signing ▁with ▁Queens ▁Park ▁R angers , ▁scoring ▁ 3 ▁goals ▁in ▁ 1 3 ▁appearances ▁in ▁the ▁Football ▁League ▁during ▁the ▁ 1 9 5 6 – 5 7 ▁season . ▁After ▁leaving ▁Q