Ben Bella’s childhood soccer style revealed his authoritarian political instincts.

Evidence

Speaking to William Quandt, an old schoolmate of Ben Bella’s recalled how he had been “a good soccer player, but he never forgot the galleries. He wanted to be number one. Ben Bella always wanted his team-mates to pass him the ball so that he could score. He was the same way in politics.” — Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Algeria 1954-1962, 1639