–SKD Sports Complex Comes Alive As Barrolle and IE Legends Meet
IPNEWS-Monrovia: For many die-hard football fans of Liberia, growing up back in the day, you were either a fan and supporter of Mighty Barrolle, alias ‘The Rollers’ and ‘Kanyan Pepper Boys’ or simply ‘The Gbehzon Boys’, or you were fan and supporter of Invincible Eleven (IE), alias ‘The Yellow Boys’, ‘Sunshine Yellow Boys’ or simply ‘The Invincible’.
Inasmuch there were other great teams of the yesteryears, including Great Bame, St. Joseph Warriors, LRPC Oilers, Aggressive Fulani, LAMCO Enforcers, Defense Invaders, FDA Foresters, Coca Cola Marines, Black Star, Young Eagles, Mighty Sparrow, Monrovia Club Breweries, etc., etc., Mighty Barrolle and Invincible Eleven (IE) were the two greatest rivals Liberian football has ever produced.
IE legend George Oppong Weah and Barrolle legend James Salinsa Debbah. The public will see them tomorrow at the Grand re-launch and jamboree
As far back as the 1960s and fast forward to 1980s, 90s and early 2000s, players of Mighty Barrolle and Invincible Eleven (IE) dominated the senior National Football Team of Liberia, the Lone Star. The likes of Josiah N. Johnson, alias JNJ, Garretson Sackor, Borbor Gaye, Mass Sarr, Sr., Anthony ‘Teacher’ Gray, Frank ‘Jericho’ Nagbe, goalie John ‘Monkey’ Brown, goalie Alexander Peal, Albert Nah, Paul Broh, Meally Freeman, Benedict ‘Mama Musa’ Wesseh, Albert Nyenetu Brown, alias Santo Maria, goalie Boye Cooper, D. Zeogar Wilson, goalie Sekou Gomez, goalie Paul Dadzie, goalie Pewu Bestman, goalie Momo Blamo, goalie Anthony Tokpah, Mark ‘Midfield General’ Gibson, Robert ‘Break Dancer’ Clarke, Sam Sumo, James Salinsa Debbah, George Oppong Weah, Jonathan ‘Boy Charles’ Sogbie, Washington ‘Defense Minister’ Blay, Solomon Joe, Emmett Trinity, Sarkpah ‘Rock of Gilbrata’ Nyensua, Adama Sarnor, Simeon Mattar, Friday ‘Jean’ Roberts, Waka Herron, Kai Jerbo, William Gray, Alex Theo, Frederick Cole, James ‘Bodywork’ Karrow, Kelvin Sebwe, Oliver Makor, Tamba Bombo, Jenkins Waya Cooper, Joe Dickson, among many others.
However, there were other top players that came from St. Joseph Warriors, LPRC Oilers, Aggressive Fulani, Great Bame, who forced their way to the Lone Star through their excellent performances for their respective clubs. The likes of Francis Mayango Jallah, James Jappah, Ansu Sirleaf, Barbe Keith Jinlack, Aloysius Jlateh, Alfred Killen, among others are names that spring to mind.
President Weah, played for Mighty Barrolle briefly during off-season in the 1980s, while Minister D, Zeogar Wilson kept goal for Mighty Barrolle for years in the 80s and early 90s. Will they be part of the Barrolle and IE legends tomorrow at the SKD?
Fast forward to the civil war, things broke down and Liberian football was no exception as it had it shares of the brunt the country suffered during the brutal civil war. The country’s two tops – IE and Mighty Barrolle – found themselves where it never imaged it could be today.
So this is why on Saturday at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex, The Mighty Barrolle Sports Association as part of activities to rekindle the good-old-spirit of Liberian football, re-launches the Grand Rollers and holds a jamboree.
According to Youth and Sports Minister, D. Zeogar Wilson, a former great goalkeeper of Mighty Barrolle, and former president of Mighty Barrolle Sports Association –USA branch, the Legends of Mighty Barrolle and Invincible Eleven will climax the day with soccer and basketball games.
He has asked Liberians to “Come and see James Salinsa Debbah and a surprise guest player.”
Other attraction will see “Liberia’s singing sensation, Sundaygar Dearboy will be performing his new hit single. You don’t want to miss this.”
Minister Wilson on his Facebook page stated: “The event will begin with a parade from the Ministerial Complex to the SKD Sport Complex at 8:00 AM. Events at the complex will begin at 10:00 AM. Come one and All!”
“We are taking Barrolle back to the people. THE PEOPLE’S TEAM SINCE 1956! NEVER DESPAIR!” the Minister post said.
