On behalf of the Board of Directors of Junior Lone Star Football Club, Inc., it is my pleasure to publish the following report about the activities and accomplishments of the club during the just-ended 2018 season.
Beginning this year, we decided to switch our fiscal year and seasonal year to the period September 1, 2018 – August 31, 2019 and being that the club has already filed its 2017 Annual Return with the IRS which covered January 1, 2017 – December 31, 2017, this annual report below shall cover only January 1, 2018 – August 31, 2018.
This club has been providing soccer programs for the youth and young adults within the city of Philadelphia as well as Delaware County for the past 17 years and we are so proud of the work we have done and still continue to do.
We hope this Annual Report will provide an insight to our activities and accomplishments of 2018 as we look forward to a more prosperous 2018/19 season.
ADMINISTRATION
Junior Lone Star Football Club was incorporated in the State of Pennsylvania in 2012 and obtained its non-profit 501(c)(3) status from the IRS in 2016. The club has been governed by a nine-person Board of Directors and Members:
President/Executive Director = Paul Konneh
Vice President for Admin. = Dempster Jardiah
Vice President for Operations = Morris Kemokai
Vice President of Players = Anthony Allison
Vice President of Coaches = George Beyan
Treasurer = Samuel Cole
Member = James Karnga
Member = Kara Smith
Member = Mekehwon Myers
The club also structured a board for the team in Liberia which include the following members:
Vice President for Administration = Winston B. Smith
Vice President for Operations = Abel G. Thomas
Member = M’Bemba Kawa
Member = Kara Smith
Member = Bobby Ali
Member = Mekehwon Myers
FINANCES
For the second successive year, we are pleased to announce that we are in the black!!
We spent $29,985 this season which included expenses incurred by the club’s various teams.
Expenses include Leagues and Cups Registration ($6,675), Players Registration ($2,710), Stadium Rental, ($5,600), Referees Fees ($6,000), Athletic Trainer Fees & Game Day expenses($1,100), Uniforms ($2,000), and most especially a van purchase for the club ($5,600) along with insurance ($300).
Thanks to our donors, sponsors, fans, members, and league cash prize, we were able to receive $30,120 in Revenue which gives us a net income of $135 going into the 2018/19 season.
Annual accounting information is available to members upon request.
MEMBERSHIP
Players
During the 2017 season, 33 players competed on the First Team, 32 players on the Under-23s, and 25 players on the Under-19s.
For the 2018 season, we had 40 players registered on the First Team, 40 players on the Under-23s, and 30 players on the Under-19s.
With the launching of the team in Liberia earlier this year, we were able to register 25 players on that squad.
Fans
The club has grown its fanbase around the world through our various social media platforms.
We had 3,943 followers on Facebook (/juniorlonestarfc), 1,433 on Twitter (@juniorlonestar), and 570 on Instagram (@juniorlonestarfc) by the end of December 2017.
Presently, we have 4,950 Followers on Facebook (/philadelphialonestarfc), 1,693 Followers on Twitter (@philadelphialonestarfc), and 839 on Instagram (@phillylonestar).
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND RECOGNITION
Oh, what a year we have had this season!!!! Both our First Team and Under-23s qualified for playoffs for the very first time!!
First Team
- Champions, Northeast Elite Soccer League;
- Semi-Finalists, NESL Playoffs;
- 2nd, NPSL Keystone Conference;
- Semi-Finalists, Keystone Conference Playoffs;
- Ranked 6th in the entire nation, out of 98 NPSL teams;
- Yaya Fane named on NPSL All-Region and All Conference XI;
- Anthony Allison & Kouassi N’Guessan named on NPSL All-Conference XI;
- Nyakeh Kamara (twice) & Zoncher Dennis made Team of the Week during the season.
Technical Staff of the First Team: Fatoma Turay, Thomas George, Neewilli Saie, Charles Flowe, Edgar Neewray.
Under-23 Team
- Finalists, UPSL American Division Playoffs
- 2nd, UPSL American Division
- Co-Champions, Capitol Cup
- Semi-Finalists, USASA Region I U23 Cup
The Under-23 Team was coached by Bobby Ali, James Karnga, and James Geayea.
Under-19 Team
The U-19s didn’t have a perfect season this year, but we are seeing some very good improvements. The Under-19 Team was coached by Samuel Cole and Idrissa Koroma.
JLSFC-Liberia
Due to prevailing situation at the LFA, there wasn’t any league game during this period, but the boys are all excited for the start of the new season with fixtures coming out next week!! The team in Liberia is coached by Solomon Trokon Freeman Jr.
Stars in the Pro
Former JLSFC midfielder Derrick Jones has spent some time with both the Philadelphia Union of the MLS and the Bethlehem Steel of the USL.
Former JLSFC defender Joseph Aidoo, who currently plays his club football in Germany, made history last month when he became the first-ever JLSFC player to feature on a senior national team when he played for Liberia in their 0-0 draw against Sierra Leone in a friendly match.
LOOKING FORWARD
Looking forward, the First Team will be competing in the EPSA State Amateur Cup and Open Cup in the Fall and they will be returning for both the NPSL and the NESL in the Spring/Summer.
The Under-23s will return to the UPSL in the Spring/Summer and will also compete in the EDP Super Club U23 League as well as the USASA Region I U23 Cup during the summer.
The Under-19s will play in couple of tournaments and college showcases in the Fall and Spring. They will also compete in the EPYSA State Cup in the summer.
We are still trying to get our Academy U-17 and U-15 teams operational. Hopefully, Mitchell Torh and Siafa Dempster would be able to accomplish that.
JLSFC-Liberia will compete in the 2018/19 LFA Third Division Championship League which is expected to begin next week. The team was drawn in a group of six teams which include 3rd division powerhouse Samira FC.
Lastly, on Monday, September 3rd, this club will be starting another chapter in its rich history and we hope it’s something that will help to advance the club’s ambition.
THANKS AND APPRECIATION
With that said, we couldn’t have done anything this season without the help and support of all of you.
Special thanks to all our sponsors/partners:
- Piayon Lassanah, Attorney-At-Law
- Cypher Language Services
- Nagbe Collection
- SlumLife Entertainment
- Monsignor Bonner
- School District of Philadelphia
- Staples
- Brotherly Game
- Liberian Observer Online
- Ja’ Belleh Sports Mag
Also, our thanks and appreciation to all those who donated towards our various soccer programs during the season.
Our heartfelt thanks to our Board of Director, Coaches, Players, and to all our Fans here and around the world.
Thanks to everyone for everything you did for this club during the 2018 season. Without you, we would be nothing!! – One Community. One Club. Our Stars.
We can’t wait to start the 2018/19 season as we wish you all a perfect Labor Day weekend!!!
Respectfully Submitted:
Paul A. Konneh, III
President/Executive Director
Junior Lone Star FC