Legends of The Lone Star: A Brief
History
By Charles
“Coo-Coo” Wordsworth
Part I
Soccer
in Liberia has had and continues to have a profound effect on the
unity and cohesion of its citizens. There are many individuals and
groups that have made substantial contributions to the development of
soccer in Liberia; yet they have been deprived of the recognition and
respect they justly deserve. Lord McCaulay tells us that “a people
which take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors,
will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by
remote descendants.” It is with such appreciation for their gallant
efforts and contributions to soccer in Liberia that we want to
recognize and pay homage to Legends of the Lone Star Soccer Team.
Organized soccer has been played in Liberia for our seventy-six
years. In August of 1927, it was reported that a Liberian team, the
“Young Lions,” defeated a European team to the consternation of the
Liberian public. There was much public enthusiasm and jubilation
after the game.
The
national soccer team of Liberia was first constituted in 1954. The
newly constituted national soccer team was called the “Probables”. It
was organized just in time to participate in a scheduled Abidjan
International football competition. The “Probables” were actually the
trailblazers of what we know today as the Lone Star. Their first trial
match was played on March 6, 1954, against a locally constituted
team. The “Probables” won by a score of two goals to zero. Samuel
Hodge scored both goals. The following made up the membership of this
pioneering team: Philip Robinson, Albert Johnson, Francis Jarbe
Lawson, Anthony “Black Jack” Dixon, Aloysius Itoka, Bruce Smith,
Edward Johnson, MacDonald Acolaste (Captain), Gideon Gadegbeku, David
Wolo, Peter Doe-Williams, Henry Varfley, Sam Elliott, Samuel Hodge,
Reubel Brewer, and Leonard Deshield. The team was coached by Frank O.
Roberts.
The
members of the original national team have made even more valuable
contributions to Liberia and the international community after their
playing careers. To name a few; Philip Robinson, who was also captain
of the National Team in 1957, was the recipient of President William
U.S. Tubman Gold Trophy for soccer as the most outstanding player in
the National Sports Meet. He served as the national soccer coach for
many years in the 1960’s after formal training as a coach in West
Germany. He also coached a United States college soccer team. He was
a world class Federation of International Football Association (FIFA)
referee; a highlight of his refereeing career occurred when he
officiated the final game at one of the African Cup of Nations
Championships. Before his retirement, he served with distinction as
the Deputy Minister of Sports in the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Other
players of the “Probables” such as Aloysius Itoka served in the
foreign service as First Secretary at the Liberian Embassy in West
Germany; MacDonald Acolaste, captain and goal merchant, became a
prominent lawyer of the Supreme Court of Liberia Bar. While Leonard
Deshield, one time assistant coach of the Lone Star, served as
President of the Liberia Football Association for many years; Chief of
Protocol of Liberia, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Gideon
Gadegbeku was also an official of the Liberian Football Association
for many years and also served in the capacity as Assistant Minister
for Statistics in the Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs. To
enumerate the contributions made by all of the members of the
“Probables” to society will require a separate forum.
One may
wonder how did our national soccer team derive the name the “Lone
Star”. The name the Lone Star emanates from the single star in
Liberia’s flag. The lone star in Liberia’s flag signifies the first
and at the time the only Negro republic on the African continent.
On
February 15, 1964, the Liberian Football Association (LFA) at an
emergency meeting officially designated the national football team of
Liberia as “Lone Star”. Support for the name gained favor when
Liberian and Ghanaian newspapers began to use it in their headlines
and news stories during the Olympic elimination series.
Approximately ten years after the formation of Liberia’s first
national football team, “the Probables”, soccer in Liberia made
substantial progress. The Lone Star competed respectably with the
likes of Africa’s Champion, Ghana Black Star, and the Green Eagles of
Nigeria. Through trials and tribulations our national team persevered
with the help of players, government officials, businesses, and the
citizenry. Despite meager resources for football development, Liberia
was blessed with a cadre of talented and patriotic players, dedicated
officials and an enthusiastic and supportive public. The year 1964
was a very crucial yet exciting time for our national football team,
the Lone Star. Three memorable matches were played against formidable
opponents. On January 18,1964, in a match billed “Game of the
Century”, a match that was one of the most thrilling and fascinating
international matches ever played in Liberia; The Black Star of Ghana,
Africa’s perennial football champions defeated Liberia by 5 goals to 4
at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium in Monrovia. This landmark game was a
turning point in the development of soccer in Liberia; it was then
that the Lone Star gained international recognition as a force to
reckon with.
The Lone
Star led the Ghana Black Star, Africa’s soccer champion by three goals
to one at half time. This was an unsurpassed feat in the annals of
African football history. The second leg was played on February 2,
1964, in Accra, Ghana as part of the Olympic elimination series. It
was estimated that over fifteen thousand spectators, including
government dignitaries, at the Accra Stadium gave the Lone Star of
Liberia a standing ovation upon entering the stadium. The game was
very exciting and competitive; the first half ended in a goaless
draw. Ghana scored the lone winning goal in the second half. The
most outstanding Liberian players of the match were goalkeeper, David
Momo and defender, Jadeh Williams, Phillip Robinson (Player/Coach),
Marr Sarr, Sam Massaquoi, Wanibo Toe, Charles Woeful, John “Monkey”
Brown, George Sacko, Charles Bismark, Jackson Weah, Jasper Wreh
Domino, Sam Williams, Teah Wilson, Borbor Gaye, Garrison Sacko
(Bulldozer).
About the
author:
Charles
Wordsworth, a graduate of Ricks Institute, played basketball, soccer
and volleyball in high school. He also played on the Cuttington
University College Basketball Team in the dual capacity of player and
coach. He played for the Invincible Eleven Basketball Team for many
years and they won several national championships. He also played
eight years on the Liberian National Basketball Team. After his
playing career, he served as a member of the Executive Committee of
the Liberian Basketball Federation and also as Chairman of the LBF
Technical Committee.
Mr.
Wordsworth has a B.S. degree in Secondary Education from Cuttington
University College. He also attended the Louis Arthur Grimes School o
Law, University in Liberia. He received an M.A. degree from George
Washington University in 1985.
Mr.
Wordsworth was Captain of the Bong County Championship basketball Team
in the National Sports Meet of Liberia in 1979, during which he also
received the Most Valuable Player award. He is currently writing a
book on the history of sports in Liberia. He has extensive coaching
experience both in Liberia and the United States. He has taught
middle and high school in Washington, DC., Brooklyn, New York and
Greensboro, North Carolina. He is currently a schoolteacher.
