Anthony ‘Teacher’Gray (dark blue and white top) poses with Omega FC at last year’s tournament

After spending their youthful days flying the colors of the Liberian national football team, a number of former football stars now called the Liberian Legends still have their nation at heart and are hosting a tournament this Saturday in Columbia, Maryland to raise funds to support the game in the West African country.

Eight teams from four American states will be hoping to upstage the hosts and defending champions in a competition that is expected to feature players ranging from age 35 and above,  said Anthony ‘Teacher’ Gray, a forme Lone Star midfielder who heads the Legends.

He told Nordic Africa News that the teams include an Oldtimers selection from Atlanta, Georgia; Delvai and Buck County Oldtimers, both from Pennsylvania.

Others gunning for the prestigious trophy are Columbia Caucus from Maryland, Boston Oldtimers of Massachusetts,  Veteran FC, a Cameroonian team and a team from Ohio.

Legends’ Patrick Sahr, Abraham Karnga and Ansu Sirleaf are set to defend the title

Maryland’s Omega FC, with star player Emmanuel Zodia Chelleh, will also be part of the action, battling to win back the trophy they took home in 2013.

The Liberian Legends, who are confident of defending their title and will be led in battle by Teacher Gray himself, are expected to feature greats like Mass Sarr Jr, Patti Rossi, Sam Sumo, Phillip Taplah and Patrick Sahr. Others are Goalkeeper Tarpeh, Eugene Gray, Ansu Sirleaf and John Greaves.

Mr. Gray emphasized that the tourney is intended to raise money to support Liberian football and therefore called on Liberians to come and be a part of the festivities as the tourney is mainly about having fun and doing something good for Liberia.