Comedian Tony Hawks challenges to individual tennis matches all 11 of the Moldovan footballers who lost to England, 4-0. He knows nothing about the cultures he is visiting but he relays his experiences in a funny first-hand way and you learn as you travel with him.

Playing the Moldovans at Tennis by Tony Hawks | Waterstones

And so we are taken to Moldova around the turn of the millennium, and spend most of the book immersed in precisely how grim the 90s were in the former Soviet Union as it transitioned to a proper market economy. From these descriptions to the final scene outside a Woolworths, the book feels dated now, but in a way that's quite charming and has given me an unexpected wish to go and see what Chisinau is like 20+ years later.Had it been a better film (perhaps by involving others in the production? NB Tony performed most jobs himself to keep costs down), maybe it would have raised more money? Even if you hate tennis and couldn't find Moldova on the map, you'll be charmed. Utterly recommended FHM Excellent concept: a few drinks, watching the soccer, you’re good at tennis, could you beat the Moldovan soccer team at your own sport? If not, you have to strip naked to their anthem.

BBC Radio 4 Extra - Playing the Moldovans at Tennis - Episode

As a die-harder on CIS traveling, I do my best in ready every travelouge written on the former Soviet republics - some works, some do not work and some are great. Tony Hawks book is - against all odds - in the 2nd category. So, to fill the time in trying to find Moldovan footballers and force them to play tennis against him, Tony sees some of the country. He visits some gypsies and presents their King, Arthur, with a somewhat predictable gift. He meets who he believes to be the Chief of Police and gets to know the Moldovan family he is staying with a little better, even if he does have to resort to some unfortunate miming to get an important point across. Tony Hawks, is a British comedian and author, famous for his Quizotic travel accounts undertaking bizarre wagers with friends. Hawks performs stand-up comedy, and is a regular on TV and radio panel games in the UK, including I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue, Just a Minute, The Unbelievable Truth and Have I Got News for You, although he first came to prominence as one of two resident performers — the other was Jo Brand — on semi-successful BBC monologue show The Brain Drain.Key details Genre Film Released 2012 Stars Tony Hawks, Anatol Durbala, Stephen Frost, Igor Babiac, Ana Chirita, Silvia Luca, Viorel Cornescu, Ina Surdu and more Writer Tony Hawks Directors Tony Hawks and Mikolaj Jaroszewicz Producers Mikolaj Jaroszewicz and Tony Hawks Company Tony Hawks, un actor de comedie din Anglia şi un bărbat excentric ce adoră provocările neobişnuite, e legat de Moldova printr-un pariu. Misiunea sa bizară e să găsească membrii echipei naționale de fotbal şi să-i convingă să joace tenis cu el. Tony Hawks needs to beat the odds and the entire Moldovan national football team...at tennis. Adapted from the best-selling book of the same name, Playing the Moldovans at Tennis is the true story of an Englishman's lesson that real victory is found in the most unexpected places.

BBC Radio 4 Extra - Playing the Moldovans at Tennis BBC Radio 4 Extra - Playing the Moldovans at Tennis

pare însă că acest lucru este adevărat. „Prima dată când am devenit vulnerabil și avem mare nevoie de ajutor. La așa ceva moldovenii reacționează!”As a family, we had enjoyed Round Ireland with a fridge. Its quirky sense of humour had greatly appealed to both my daughters (10 and 12). We were therefore looking forward to this film (which has been in production for a long time). It gives you some interesting first hand views on Moldova – for instance when he is in the bar savouring a beer and the people are looking at him strangely as they down a vodka in seconds and leave – there is no social drinking just something to ease the pain. Playing the Moldovans at Tennis by Tony Hawks is the story of Hawks' attempt to a win a bet. A bet, which, to any sane person, would sound utterly ridiculous: that he could beat all of the players that were on the field for the Moldovan national soccer team, in tennis (one on one). Why this bet, of all things? As he and his buddy were watching the game on TV, they decided to debate if athletic ability wins out over skill and knowledge of a game. As Mr. Hawks used to play tennis at a very low competitive level, he was adamant that he could beat athletic individuals, like these soccer players, at his game. So adamant that he was willing to agree to stripping naked and singing the Moldovan national anthem if he wasn't able to beat all 11 players. Pretty daring, but somewhat expected - Mr. Hawks wrote one book previously, Round Ireland with a Fridge, where apparently he walked around Ireland while carrying a fridge, also on a bet.