|
| |
Simeon Queelyme, a.k.a. Pilimo
Profile
My passion for the world’s most popular game, soccer (football, as it is
called in Liberia) dates back in the mid seventies. Growing up in the
small iron ore mining town of Bong Mines, I soon found that my love of
the game was being manifested in an exceptional exhibition of artistic
skills.
At age 12, I started up as a goalie. I soon realized that that area of
the game was just not my place on the field. One cool afternoon, I
forced myself into the field at the # 6 position to the initial dislike
of my playmates. My colleagues had preferred me to mend the goal post.
After that afternoon practice, my life as a lover of the game and now a
player changed for ever.
At age fifteen, I had organized a community football team, called “Super
‘76”. It was in 1976 when my style of play and artistic skills began to
catch the eyes of soccer lovers. That year, I was recruited on the
school team, Zaweata Elementary and performed to the expectations of
all: the entire student body, the coaches, and community members. During
that year, I was selected team captain for the school team, due to the
leadership role exhibited on and off the field.
I later joined one of the community’s local football clubs, Salim Super
Stars (SSS) as one of three young players recruited. While in Salim
Super Stars, I encountered my idol, James Washington. As a young player,
I was overwhelmed and strongly motivated by this man’s composure,
intelligence and dexterity on the field of play. James played for the
Invincible Eleven (IE) and the Lone Star, the national team of Liberia.
While playing along side James on the Bong Range United team, he taught
me that my success in the game will be based on DISCIPLINE OF THE MIND.
In 1979, I was called to join a selection of players to participate in
the annual county football festival (The County Meet) for Bong County.
My record performance in that competition landed me an offer to play for
the Mighty Sparrow FC of Harbel. After one season with Sparrow, I moved
back to play for Bong Range United, now a first division club
participating in the national first division league. I still cherish the
memories of playing on Bong Range United with players like Kai Jerbo,
James Morris, and Boye Charles, Alex Theo, George “Oppong” Weah and many
more good players.
In 1982, while attending school at the Booker Washington Institute (BWI),
I was called upon to strengthen the attacking power of the Great Bame
Football Club of Monrovia. I later left the club after one season due to
management in-fighting and continued to help the BWI Tigers win many
high school games. At BWI, I was dubbed “BWI Pili” for my remarkable
performance and strategic goal scoring skills. During those years at BWI,
I was now a player with remarkable agility and enormous vision, knowing
when and how to provide accurate passes to my teammates.
In 1983, I was once again selected to participate in the national county
meet, the prestigious football tournament that brought together the
country’s greatest young talents to compete on the county level. This
time it was to play for Margibi County along side national player like
D. Zeogar Wilson and others.
In 1985, I joined one of the nation’s premier clubs Mighty Barrolle.
This national appearance was quit amazing, rewarding and historical for
a player like me with such a long records of achievements. Joining
Mighty Barrolle was considered a dream fulfilled, as my love for the
club dated back when I formed my own football team in 1976. The team
primary jersey color was red and white, hence my love for Barrolle which
had the same colors. In Barrolle, I was opportune to play my first
international game in Cameroon. The game against Union Duala FC was a
great eye opener for me in international football. Quit frankly, my
performance in that historic game was substandard, but an experience
that later paid off during my entire career.
After that experience, I played more national games, wining national
titles and also played in more than 10 African countries.
While playing for Mighty Barrolle, my performance won me a spot on the
national team, the Lone Star of Liberia in 1987. I consider myself as
one of the first pioneers of modern Lone Star. This assertion stands
from the fact that it was during this year that the first modern
football stadium SKD was opened and had two hired Brazilian coaches.
During those years with the national team, I had the opportunity of
traveling to the great football country, Brazil with such players like
Joe Nagbe, Solomon Joe, George Weah, Thomas Freeman, etc. for training
camp (first of its kind).
This long soccer journey came to an end in 1994 after the Liberian civil
conflict. I retired from playing active soccer and began coaching the
young generation of players of the club. I later served as vice
president for technical affairs for the club.
Is there anything important to remember for more than twenty years of my
football playing years? Yes, I am proud to be one of Liberia national
football hero. I remembered entertaining fans, who confessed about my
attitude, style and leadership role on and off the field. Yes, I also
remembered those who disliked my plays. For those people, I used their
criticism to improve my performances over those years.
Just the other day, a friend asked me how many goals I scored during my
national appearances. This was my answer: “I can’t remember” and there
is no records. For me, what is important now is that I am remembered for
playing for Mighty Barrolle and the Lone Star of Liberia.
|
|
