Football is life, as Dani Rojas, a fictional character in the hit TV series Ted Lasso likes to say. Many of us resonate with that but of course we know that soccer is just a game, a part of life. Soccer just so happens to be a very big part of life for Paul Konneh, President and Executive Director of Philadelphia Lone Star FC Paul oversees the preparation of schedules, rosters, and logistical coordination for five teams at the same time.

Philadelphia Lone Star FC currently plays in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL), and USL League Two (USL2) simultaneously. In the American soccer lower league landscape, a fair number of clubs have two teams playing in two different leagues at the same time, but not many have three. How about four teams? Philadelphia Lone Star II, the U23 reserve squad play in UPSL Division 1. How about five teams? The Lone Star women’s team play in the Women’s Premier Soccer League. Five teams across the Lone Star club in total. Football is life, especially in Philadelphia

At the beginning of the season, Lone Star FC designate a single team of players for both UPSL and NPSL and a different team of players for USL2. Per Konneh, “The UPSL season starts early, like in early April, so we made sure we scheduled all of our 10 regular season games before mid-May, which is when both the NPSL and USL2 seasons begin.” If they do have an NPSL game and a UPSL game on the same day, then they will split their non USL2 squad in two so that they can play both games. So, with all bases covered from behind the scenes, the Lone Star FC players and coaching staff can focus on their games, despite what may seem like a hectic schedule on paper.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Lone Star FC is not just playing in multiple leagues, but rather looking at where they came from to seeing where they are now. The club started in 2001 and was founded by Bobby Ali, a Liberian immigrant who had fled a civil war in his home country. They started with a single team of 13 Liberian players who competed in U17 State Cups for the first few years of their existence. Over the years they have expanded their player pool, joined formalized leagues, and have played in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Drake’s “Started from the Bottom” may or may not have played over the stadium speakers after they won the 2018 Pennsylvania State Cup. To see them grow from 13 players to a club that competes in three different leagues, plus a full reserve squad and women’s team, is a remarkable and inspiring journey in lower league soccer. But why stop there? When asked about future goals for the club, Paul says “Our goal is to continue providing opportunities for players within our community. Our overall goal as a club is to one day play in one of the pro leagues. Of course, that can only happen through the right investors that believe in our club and what we have done and are still doing.”

Last week, the club announced the transfer of forward Hassan Kromah to Lithuanian Optimet Pirma Lyga pro side BE1 NFA.

On a recent early Summer Sunday afternoon, Philadelphia Lone Star played host to Philadelphia Ukrainian Nationals in NPSL action. All of the behind-the-scenes prep work is complete, and a good size crowd gathers in the stands in time for kickoff. A group of volunteers sit at the front stadium entrance for tickets, while another volunteer crew set up a camera at the top of the stands to live stream the game on Eleven Sports. The stadium announcer calls out the starting line-ups and the ball boys set up next to the goals to track down any shots that miss the net. For a few hours on a Sunday afternoon in South Philadelphia, football is life.

- Tim Lutz