Limón Black Star

Limón Black Star is a Costa Rican association football team based in Limón. It is set to make its debut in the Segunda División de Costa Rica, starting in the 2022–23 season.

Limón
Full nameLimón Black Star
Nickname(s)Limonenses
Founded28 April 2022
GroundEstadio Juan Gobán
Limón, Costa Rica
Capacity3,000
PresidentVíctor García
LeagueLiga de Ascenso
Apertura 202310°

The team originated in the aftermath of Limón's demise in 2021 due to financial irregularities. Local businessmen purchased the franchise of Marineros de Puntarenas to relocate the team to Limón.

Its name is an homage to the Liberty Hall, commonly known as the Black Star Line Building. This hall, which was destroyed by fire in April 2016, was an important landmark of downtown Limón, and a symbol of Afro–Costa Ricans, particularly those within the Limón Province.

The team uses the Pan-African colours in homage to the Rastafari movement, ditching the traditional green and white colors used by previous teams in the city such as Limonense and Limón.[1]

History
The club pays homage to Limón's Liberty Hall, also known as Black Star Line

During the first half of 2021, Limón entered "a series of bad decisions" that ultimately led to the team's relegation to the Liga de Ascenso.[2] Despite efforts to nullify the 2020–21 Liga FPD season and avoid relegation,[3] the club's situation worsened. The club had accumulated numerous delayed payments to the Costa Rican Social Security Fund, which prevented them from playing matches in the Liga de Ascenso.[4] By January 2022, Limón had accumulated over ₡98 million in debts to the Security Fund.[5] The club could not solve the situation and was officially relegated to the Tercera Division de Costa Rica, losing its category as a professional team.[6]

Immediately after the team's disappearance, former administrative manager Celso Gamboa announced his intentions of acquiring the franchise of Marineros de Puntarenas, a team based in Puntarenas that struggled in coexisting with the more traditional Puntarenas F.C.[7][8] On 28 April 2022, the acquisition of Marineros was officially confirmed, and the team was renamed to Limón Black Star.[9] The name is an allusion of the Liberty Hall, also known as the Black Star Line, a prominent landmark in downtown Limón and a symbol of Afro-Costa Rican culture, which was destroyed by a fire in April 2016.

On 25 May 2022, the new team's administration announced the badge and colours, adopting the Pan-African colouring due to the Rastafari movement and the city's historical ties with the Afro-Caribbean people.[10]

Stadium

The Juan Gobán Stadium is a soccer stadium located in Limón, head of the province of the same name, on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica.

In February 2010, a synthetic turf measuring 91 meters long by 72 meters wide was installed. The following reforms included the construction of boxes, press areas, complete remodeling of the dressing rooms and installation of artificial lighting.

In September 2010, the Juan Gobán stadium was reopened after a series of renovations that involved a year and a half of work, in addition to an investment of close to $1 million, 800 thousand dollars.

Among the novelties is the expansion of the dressing room area from two to four, a weight room, a doping room, laundry, four sodas, two offices, the installation of 20 restrooms and a VIP area for 220 people. In addition to the total replacement of the roof of the shadow grandstand.

In general, the capacity of the redoubt was expanded to 2,349 people. The stadium was home to the Limon F.C. of the First Division of Costa Rica from 2010 to 2020.

Current squad

As of 23 July 2023.[11]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK Costa Rica CRC Ricardo Montenegro
— GK Costa Rica CRC José Velázquez
— GK Costa Rica CRC Darién Hidalgo
— DF Costa Rica CRC Shain Brown
— DF Costa Rica CRC Darlon Level
— DF Costa Rica CRC Jonaiker Gamboa
— DF Costa Rica CRC Carlos Quirós
— DF Costa Rica CRC Adrián Chévez
— DF Costa Rica CRC Elking Scoby
— DF Costa Rica CRC Sheldon Harris
— DF Costa Rica CRC Landon Calderón
— DF Costa Rica CRC Shawmark Hodgson
— MF Costa Rica CRC Johnny Gordon
— MF Costa Rica CRC José Torres
— MF Costa Rica CRC Jeyson Powell
— MF Costa Rica CRC Jurguen Esquivel
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF Costa Rica CRC Guillermo Leal
— MF Costa Rica CRC Alexander Espinoza
— MF Costa Rica CRC Kane Ujueta
— MF Costa Rica CRC Justin Ramírez
— MF Costa Rica CRC Keymark Davis
— MF Costa Rica CRC Deanmark Brumley
— MF Costa Rica CRC Cristian Flores
— MF Costa Rica CRC Kwame Bayles
— MF Costa Rica CRC Kedrish Picado
— MF Costa Rica CRC Johnny Myrie
— FW Costa Rica CRC Froylán Alfaro
— FW Costa Rica CRC Darnell Barthley
— FW Costa Rica CRC Jonedzel López
— FW Costa Rica CRC Slahuko Jawnyj
— FW Costa Rica CRC Brandon Solís
— FW Costa Rica CRC Kendal Wilson

Personnel

The initial staff members were announced on 28 April 2022.[12] Aside from the members listed below, Carlos Watson and Juan Cayasso have also been mentioned as collaborators.[13]

The current staff, as of 23 July 2023,[11] is as follows:

Current technical staff
PositionStaff
Head coachCosta Rica Marvin Solano
Assistant coachCosta Rica Erick Ortiz
Assistant coachCosta Rica Erick Scott
Fitness coachCosta Rica José Villachica
Goalkeeping coachCosta Rica Dexter Lewis
Equipment managerCosta Rica Carlos Araica
Massage therapistCosta Rica Fernando Ford
Physical therapistCosta Rica Beatriz Álvarez

Management
PositionStaff
PresidentCosta Rica Cristian Williams
Sporting directorCosta Rica Juan Cayasso

See also

References
  1. Arroyo, Franklin (2 June 2022). "Limonenses están a gusto con nuevo proyecto de Limón Black Star". La Teja (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  2. Mendoza, Adrián (26 May 2021). "Limón FC: sanciones, despidos y crisis que terminan en un amargo descenso | Crhoy.com". CRHoy.com | Periodico Digital | Costa Rica Noticias 24/7 (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  3. Herrera, Walter (26 May 2021). "Limón F.C. apelaría el descenso y la temporada 2020-2021". La República (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  4. Araya, José Fernando (6 August 2021). "Limón no debutará en Liga de Ascenso por deudas con la CCSS". Teletica. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  5. Vargas, Dinia (29 January 2022). "Deudas, atrasos y problemas de licencia: Limón FC se hunde a la espera de un milagro | Crhoy.com". CRHoy.com | Periodico Digital | Costa Rica Noticias 24/7 (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  6. Gutiérrez, César (12 February 2022). "Limón F.C. con 61 años de historia desciende al fútbol de canchas abiertas - El Guardián CR". El Guardián (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  7. Herrera, Walter (22 February 2022). ""El público está de luto en Limón por la desaparición del club": Celso Gamboa". www.larepublica.net (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  8. Herrera, Walter (17 February 2022). "Celso Gamboa a un paso de trasladar franquicia de Marineros a Limón". www.larepublica.net (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  9. Arroyo, Franklin (28 April 2022). "Limón tendrá un nuevo equipo en la segunda división". La Teja (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  10. Arroyo, Franklin (25 May 2022). "Equipo Limón Black Star ya tiene escudo y bandera". La Teja (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  11. "Limón Black Star on Twitter". Twitter. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  12. Herrera, Walter (28 April 2022). "¡Volvió la fiesta! Limón Black Star nace de las cenizas". La República (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  13. Alpizar, María (19 May 2022). "Carlos Watson regresa a las canchas". El Mundo. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
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