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Photos from the Liberian Soccer Team's Game in the African Cup of Nations

September 02, 2007 | Pulitzer Center
By
Ruthie Ackerman, Andre Lambertson and Naje Lataillade, for the Pulitzer Center
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Warm Up: The Liberian team sings and dances before the big game, New Dorp Field, Staten Island. Image by Ruthie Ackerman. New York, 2007.

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Balancing act: Liberian player from Trenton, New Jersey shows off his skills. Image by Ruthie Ackerman. New York, 2007.

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Leaving the Field: Not everyone agrees with the referee's call. Image by Ruthie Ackerman. New York, 2007.

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A world apart: Liberian player sits on the sidelines. Image by Ruthie Ackerman. New York, 2007.

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Jerry Fights for the Ball: Jerry Manneh struggles to gain control of the ball from the opposing team. Image by Ruthie Ackerman. New York, 2007.

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Jerry Manneh: 26-year old Manneh moved to Staten Island in 1999 after waiting 14 years for a visa to join his family in the United States. Image by Ruthie Ackerman. New York, 2007.

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Jerry Dennis: 26-year old Dennis has a two-year-old daughter he hopes to bring back to Liberia some day. Image by Ruthie Ackerman. New York, 2007.

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Karim Sherman: 22-year old Sherman moved to Staten Island in 2004. Image by Ruthie Ackerman. New York, 2007.

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Mohammed Madave: 20-year old Madave left Liberia before the war broke out and now travels the world playing soccer. Image by Ruthie Ackerman. New York, 2007.

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After School Special: Samuel Tarpeh, a college student in West Virginia, supports the Liberian Team. Image by Ruthie Ackerman. New York, 2007.

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Red, white and blue: Liberian soccer player takes a break after their victory, New Dorp Field, Staten Island. Image by Ruthie Ackerman. New York, 2007.

On August 11, the Liberian soccer league from Staten Island, New York took part in the African Cup of Nations to determine this year's big winner. Liberian soccer players from as far away as Trenton, New Jersey and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania came together on Miller Field in Staten Island for a day of competition. Some of the players grew up together in Liberia during the 14-year civil war. Others met in the United States, where they fled as refugees. For these youth, the soccer field is a place of healing and reconciliation where they can have fun and forget about their past. The Liberians won the match.