LFA’s Dargba Gets Befitting Burial -As LPRC Oilers Also Mourned His Demise

The casket bearing the mortal remains of the late Moses G. Dargba. Right is Mrs. Salome Dargba in tears

Written by Leroy M. Sonpon, III
leroysonpon@yahoo.com
 (231-886-585875)
 
The Former Chairman on the Committee on Security and Fairplay of Liberia Football Association (LFA), Moses Gbain Dargba, received a befitting burial on Saturday, July 14, 2012, in Monrovia, with scores of officials and workers of the LFA and the Oilers Sports Association (OSA) mourning his demise.


Moses, 56, was a former striker for the LPRC Oilers Football Team in the 1980s, who later became the Team Manager (Administrative Manager) after retirement.

Having great passion for football, and demonstrated love for the ‘Oil Boys,’ he also served the position as Business Manager and in 2008, was rewarded for his dedication and diligence, owing to his election as President of the Oilers Sports Association; a position he held till his death.

During his reign as President for both the Oilers’s football and basketball teams, he was elected as one of the Representatives for the Premier Clubs at the Executive Committee of the LFA in 2010, the position he tirelessly served till his demise.

Under Dargba’s tenure, the LPRC Oilers Basketball team became the “back-to-back” champs, by winning the Liberia Basketball Association (LBA) 1st Division championships in the 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 league seasons.

The Oilers football squad won the President’s Cup in 2011 and qualified for the grand final of the “Who Owns The Land Tournament” that is yet to be played.

Also, under his tenure, the football team recorded the longest unbeaten run in 17 games in the top flight in the 2010/2011 league.

The late Dargba worked for LPRC for 27 years, from maintenance supervisor to maintenance superintendent and then to assistant maintenance manager and lastly ascended to the post of Maintenance Manager, a position he held until he was retired on June 11, 2008.

He was a devoted Christian and past “Father of the Year” for 2009/2010 of the St. Simon Baptist Church in Monrovia.

The late Darbga is survived by his wife, Salome Dargba, four children (2 girls—Nenieta and Mosie; 2 boys---Best and Sebron.)

“Daddy, your life was a sheer footprint, short but exemplary. You will forever remain in our hearts; though you are gone but to us you are still alive because we feel and see you in everything we do,” Best Dargba sobbed.

“The premier clubs will miss you for your counsel and humbleness…yes…rest in perfect peace,” Andy Quarmie of the LFA Premier League Board noted.

“Football mourns your death EC Dargba; you were very humbled, quiet and hardworking…we will always miss you and to fill your vacuum will be terribly hard…rest in the bosom of Father Abraham,” LFA boss Musa Bility lamented.

“The LPRC family will not only miss you, but will never find a suitable and humble president like you. Even three days to your death, on your sick bed, you gave us advice about Oilers....as we promised you we must fulfill our vow we made to your family,” T. Nelson Williams, LPRC Managing Director said.

Interestingly, a day to his death, Dargba told his family not to have wake-keeping for him (mourning of the night), neither repast (food or drinks), if he died.

Meanwhile, it has been learnt that the LFA boss for the first time, in front of workers, since his ascendancy at the football house in March-2010, bitterly wept.


The LFA boss was seen sharing uncontrollable tears during the late Moses G. Dargba’s funeral.

According to reports, the LFA boss has never cried bitterly during the burials of the former Lone Star linchpin Patrick Doeplah and the LFA former Deputy Secretary General for Operations, Abayomie Caulcrick, who both died 2011.

Some workers who spoke to the Daily Observer on condition of anonymity during the funeral at the St. Simon Baptist Church indicated that the late Dargba was a “right-hand-man” to Bility on the Executive Committee, as it relates to his support through “vote or decision-making.”

The workers also said Dargba, a one-time strong supporter of LFA ex-President Izetta Wesley (who was at the funeral), but was converted in the 11th hour, and his late conversion was felt by the Bility’s camp owing to his mammoth campaign.

The workers further said the late Dargba, amongst his competitors, submitted a reasonable budget to the LFA for the re-fencing of the Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS), a budget which Bility, according to them described as “economically done.”

Bility’s wild tears meant that he had to roll-up his sleeves to get another “right-hand-man” and another chairman on security and fairplay, who knows the work, for the good of the game.