Peter Law travels back in time to bring you the heroes of yesteryear

Bocande managed Senegal at the 1994 Nations Cup

Jules Bocande was one of Senegal's finest ever strikers but was lucky to have had a football career at all.

As a youngster he was involved in a row with a referee in a domestic cup final. He kicked and abused the official but his petulant actions earned him a life ban from domestic football.

Undeterred, he set off for Belgium in 1981 and began his professional career at third division side Tournai.

Always a handful for defenders, he then moved to First Division Seraing where he formed a useful partnership with Zaire's Eugene Kabongo.

Metz in France was his next stop, signing in 1984 and helping his new side eliminate Barcelona from the Cup Winners' Cup.

The 1985-86 season was the most fruitful of Bocande's career. He finished top of the scoring charts with a career-best 23 goals, and was rewarded with a call-up to the national team.

Jules Bocande playing his last Nations Cup in 1992

A fine hat-trick against Zimbabwe cemented his place in the Lions squad and helped Senegal to qualify for their first Nations Cup finals since 1968.

However, Senegal's first round elimination in Egypt ended the adventure on a disappointing note.

Back in France, Bocande continued his nomadic existence, moving to Paris St Germain before having spells at Nice and Lens.

But he was unable to repeat the prolific scoring of his days with Metz.

With Senegal hosting the 1992 Nations Cup finals, expectations were high that the Lions would roar their way to the title, having failed to do so in Algeria two years previously.

Now installed as team skipper, the dreadlocked striker was the key man carrying the hopes of a nation. But it proved too big a task and the home side were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Cameroon.

Amid widespread public criticism, Bocande decided to call time on his international career after three Nations Cups and two goals.

Bocande against Cameroon in the 1992 Nations Cup

And after eight years in the French first division and 70 goals in 221 games, a final move took the man nicknamed 'Boc' back to Belgium, joining second division Aalast.

Two years on, he was appointed national coach and led his country to the Nations Cup finals in Tunisia.

After Senegal's quarter-final defeat to Zambia, Bocande found himself out of a job upon his return home.

However, he remained a powerful voice in Senegalese football and was chosen by Frenchman Bruno Metsu to be his assistant in 2000, adding inspiration to a new generation of players who had grown up idolising him.

Bocande's playing days may be over but the emergence of his young son means the family name will be talked of in Senegalese football circles for a while yet.

Daniel Francois Bocande is on the books of Metz and looks to be a chip off the old block.

He scored most of the goals in Senegal's qualifiers for the 2003 All-Africa Games.

His father said: "I'm so proud of him and hope he will be better than me. He has a great future."

Indeed, if he achieves anything like his dad, the young Bocande should do well and do his country proud.