Junior Lone Star FC adding team in Liberia

As a destination for many of the best West African-born players in the Philadelphia region, Junior Lone Star FC already has strong ties to Liberia and other African nations.

That tie is only going to get stronger with the club announcing on Monday that a Junior Lone Star FC-Liberia team will be added.

“Our goal is not only to expand our brand but to also identify players with potential talent who will one day compete for colleges and or pro teams in the United States or other parts of the world,” Junior Lone Star President Paul Konneh said.

The team will be based in Monrovia, Liberia and have teams competing from the U15 to U20 divisions in Monrovia to start before expanding to other counties.

Goals for the new team include partnering with other youth clubs in the country to reach 350-400 players across all age groups through high school in the first four years and have the team competing in the Liberia National Football League pro division by 2020.

Junior Lone Star FC was founded in 2001 by West African immigrants. Liberia’s national team nickname – the Lone Stars – inspired the club’s name. The first team has competed in the National Premier Soccer League since 2012 and booked a spot in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup proper through local qualification for the first time in 2017.