12/09/2024
The History of Liberia football icon & legend Waniboto Toe. Queued from the net....
Do you know that January 13 of each year marks the anniversary of the death of Liberian football legend Wanibo Toe?
According to the Liberian Age Newspaper in 1967, the Liberian born, Ghanaian bred Wanibo Toe was easily the most exciting player in the world and the king of dribblers at that time who could surpass the fame of King Pele of Brazil.
During his club career, Wanibo Toe played two season in the Ghana Premier League before he returned to Liberia where in reportedly died on January 13, 1967 at the Catholic Hospital of “kidney troubles"
Information gathered says, In 1967 Toe was hospitalized after sustaining an injury to the rib in a game between Mighty Barrolle and a Ghanaian team. (Toe had initially joined Invincible Eleven, IE, and later Mighty Barrolle.) The injured Toe was taken to the Government Hospital on Front Street. But during the decisive Game 5 of the UTA tournament between IE and Barrolle (and the latter trailing 0-1), the ailing Toe sneaked out of the Hospital, went to the Antoinette Stadium, and was included in the game. Though injured, the “King of Dribbler” heroically dismantled IE’s defense and threaded a perfect pass to teammate Mass Sarr (18 yards) who hammered in the goal to tie the game. Toe collapsed afterwards and was taken back to the Hospital. It turned out that he had gravely aggravated his injury. President Tubman intervened and Toe was to be flown to Britain. Unfortunately, the “Great Football Wizard” died about a day or so before the flight.
During the 1962/63 season in the Ghana Premier League, it was a controversial and memory season that year after a confrontation between Sekondi Hasaacas and the soccer controlling body of Ghana over the transfer of their star player, Liberian born, Ghanaian bred Wanibo Toe, resulted in the dismissal of Hasaacas from the league.
Wanibo Toe was easily the most exciting player in the Western Region at the time and Sports Director Ohene Djan was extremely anxious to transfer him to his pet model club, Real Republicans.
Hasaacas were not amused at all. They protested vehemently and did publicly threaten to quit the league if they were deprived of the services of Wanibo Toe. Indeed, to preempt the transfer, Hasaacas announced an indefinite suspension of Wanibo Toe.
That action provoked the all-powerful Ohene Djan who, in a spectacular show of power, sacked Hasaacas from the league which was then in progress and then invited second division-Ghana Independence, also from Sekondi, to continue from where Hasaacas had left off. Ohene Djan annulled the suspension of Wanibo Toe in the national interest and transferred him to Republicans. He played for two seasons before returning to his mother country, Liberia.
Wanibo Toe was part of the Lone Stat squad that the Black Star of Ghana whipped 5-4 at the newly constructed Antoinette Tubman Stadium in Central Monrovia.
In that game, Lone Star lineup some of the legs of John Monkey Brown(Capitan) Frank O Roberts, Wanibo Toe and David Momo stood between the sticks for the hosts as President William V.S Tubman and his wife Antoinette Tubman watched from the VIP spot.
Liberia took a 3-1 lead in the first half, leaving supporters of the newly organized national football team to take the street of Monrovia in total jubilation.
Coming from the break with with thousands of Liberian still outside of the stadium buying food to eat and discussing the first half, Lone Star conceded quick four goals leaving returning fans in the stadium in total shock.
According to the Liberian Age Newspaper, When Toe died, he was buried at “Palm Grove Cemetery”. Today the largely neglected Palm Grove with desecrated graves belies the fact that it is the nation’s oldest, recognized burial grounds. One tombstone at Palm Grove belongs to Joseph J. Roberts. So, one of Toe’s grave-mates is Liberia’s first president!
Wanibo Toe nicknamed “Bulldozer” by fans was admired for his tendency to physically overpower defenders and score goals.
Dribbling was Toe’s wizardry, and scoring was his game; he played almost effortlessly with poise and finesse.
It’s Liberian Times
