Family Man, Liberian Football Legend: Remembering John ‘Monkey’ Brown

Family Man, Liberian Football Legend: Remembering John ‘Monkey’ Brown
12/07/08 - Philip F. Jorgu, Contributing Writer, on behalf of the family

Family Man, Liberian Football Legend: Remembering John ‘Monkey’ Brown Jmbrown3

John Teah Brown, commonly known as" John Monkey Brown" receives honor during an honoring program held on Friday August 1, 2008. The event was followed by a series of events including a competitive soccer tournament involving the USA chapters of the four main teams of Liberia- Bame, Invincible Eleven, St. Joseph Warriors, and Mighty Barrolle. Brown died in Charlotte, NC. on November 25th 2008.

Charlotte, N.C. -

F

our months after Diaspora Liberians converged on Charlotte, North Carolina to begin the process of immortalizing his name in the annals of Liberian Soccer history, John Monkey Brown has passed on. John Teah Brown, commonly known as" John Monkey Brown" died in Charlotte, NC. on November 25th 2008.

The late Brown distinguished himself as a sterling soccer icon for nearly two decades in Liberia and in countries of West Africa. He was a legend of his time and his contribution to soccer, undoubtedly, helped in creating an environment that was conducive for young talents to capitalize on.

Family Man, Liberian Football Legend: Remembering John ‘Monkey’ Brown Jmbrown1

The late John Monkey Brown career spanned more than ten years (covering over 82 international soccer matches). Brown played the standard “Number Five” or “Sweeper” on the Liberian National Soccer Team (Lone Star).

The August honoring program held on Friday August 1, 2008 was followed by a series of events including a competitive soccer tournament involving the USA chapters of the four main teams of Liberia- Bame, Invincible Eleven, St. Joseph Warriors, and Mighty Barrolle. At the end of a grueling round of soccer artistry, the St. Joseph Warriors defeated Bame to capture the John Monkey Brown Special Tournament Trophy. Among the former stars featured in the tournament were Thomas Bai Freeman, Dominic Brapoh, Matthew Brown, and Philip Klah. Other former stars featured in the games were Roland Brown, Daniel Workpeh Kofa, Isaac McIntosh, and Edwin Boogie Waleh.

Name changed due to football exploits

Brown was born on October 15, 1940 onto the union of Mr. /Mrs. Thomas and Jennie Brown in Monrovia, Liberia. Monkey Brown had only one sibling (a sister); he was however the elder of the two children by Thomas and Jennie Brown. His lovely parents aptly called him John Teah Brown at birth; however, sports enthusiasts affectionately changed his birth name during his teenage days to reflect his superb athletic performance on the soccer field.

Mr. Thomas Brown, the decease’s father, was a Seaman by profession, while his wife, Mrs. Jennie Brown, was a successful merchant. These lovely parents gave Monkey Brown all the love and support he needed to excel socially and academically by Liberian standard.

Monkey Brown started his academic journey in 1944, at the Bassa Community School, in Monrovia. He was fond of school and the many social and academic opportunities it provided for each student. Thus, upon completing the Bassa Community School, Monkey Brown matriculated to Cathedral, a Catholic Junior high school in Monrovia, where he completed his junior high school education. He later enrolled at St Patrick High School – another private school in Monrovia, where he stayed and successfully completed his secondary education, in 1956.

Quickly excelled among peers

John Monkey Brown started playing football at an early age – like most kids in Liberia at the time. He played tennis ball with peers between houses, on narrow streets, beaches, courtyards, and on school playgrounds. He quickly excelled amongst his peers as a leader and as an excellent footballer at those non-traditional football fields. His peers liked him and often made him their first pick during those informal soccer scrimmages.

As there were few television stars and/or glamorous footballers in Liberia at the time (for children to emulate), John Monkey Brown – like most of his peers, cultivated his own talent to the fullest with little or no external influence. He depended on hard work, perseverance, and fair play as his guide to achieving excellence on the soccer field and beyond.

Hence, John Monkey Brown’s extraordinary talent and commitment to the game were quickly spotted and nurtured by many soccer teams in Monrovia, Liberia. The first of these teams was the defunct “JET” soccer club of Monrovia, Liberia. Monkey Brown made his debut with “JET” Soccer Team in the mid 1950s. This local minor-league club was the junior team or “feeder” for the “Youth Leaders” soccer squad of Monrovia, Liberia. Based on Monkey Brown’s extraordinary talent and commitment to the game as it was noticed while he was playing with “JET Soccer Team,” he was quickly allowed to move up to “Youth Leaders” the then senior team to “JET” Soccer Team.

From Youth Leaders to Rollers

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FINAL DAYS: Brown died on November 25, 2008 in Charlotte, N.C.

After a year with “Youth Leaders,” Monkey Brown’s superb talent and discipline was again rewarded as he was moved to yet another group of improved soccer talents, this time with “Gbarzon,” which was then the senior team to the present “Mighty Barrolle” soccer team of the Republic of Liberia. Sadly, however, “Gbarzon” was demoted to a junior team status – under “Mighty Barrolle,” after the team failed in nearly five years to defeat the “Invincible Eleven” (I.E.) soccer club, its archrival .

Thus, when “Mighty Barrolle” defeated “Invincible Eleven” (I.E.) in 1957, “Barrolle” was quickly moved from junior to senior team status over “Gbarzon,” its senior and precursor. Monkey Brown was again moved to “Mighty Barrolle” which was then the senior team to “Gbarzon”. Barrolle finally turned out to be Monkey Brown’s favorite club team because of the team’s high standard of discipline and performance as it was being exhibited on the Liberian soccer landscape at the time. After Gbarzon’s public humiliation and subsequent dethronement, the team quickly dissolved and changed its name to “Ameweh” – a Bassa word meaning, “We die before”.

For over ten years (covering over 82 international soccer matches), John Monkey Brown served as the standard “Number Five” or “Sweeper” on the Liberian National Soccer Team (Lone Star). He also served as the standard “Penalty Kicker” for all the teams he played for, including but not necessarily limited to the Liberian National Soccer Team. He served this office with extraordinary distinction to the point that he will forever be remembered as the greatest penalty kicker of his time. Nonetheless, he will also be remembered for missing two crucial penalties throughout his soccer career. The first miss was against Barrolle’s archrival, I.E. Soccer Team while the other was against Marshall Territory Soccer Team during the 1971 County League. Those sad moments of his soccer career were largely attributed to external factors beyond Monkey Brown’s control as he always reminded his listener whenever he reflected on his days of soccer playing.

Superb wizadry rewarded

Like the great “King Pele” of Brazil, whose name was affectionately changed from Edson Arantes do Nascimento to a nickname, “King Pele,” in recognition for his extraordinary speed, great balance, tremendous vision, and the ability to control the ball superbly on the soccer field. John Teah Brown’s extraordinary ability to leap higher above “Strikers” of opponent teams to head the football away from his goal, or trap the ball from mid-air and comfortably brings it down to the ground with ease, earned him the nickname, “Monkey,” to described his superb soccer skills and leaping ability. This nickname originated from Sierra Leone after one of Mr. Brown’s superb and wizardry performance on the “Lone Star Team” against the Sierra Leonean National team in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Sierra Leonean spectators and players started calling Mr. John Teah Brown “The Monkey Man” as they compared his agility and leaping ability and skills on the soccer field to a monkey. This nickname quickly stuck on him from Sierra Leone to Liberia and beyond.

Till today John Teah Brown just want to be called and remembered as John Monkey Brown, the greatest “Penalty Kicker” of his time. He will also be remembered as the only “Number Five Position Player” in the history of Liberian football with more than 32-career goals to his credit.

John Monkey Brown considered the Ghanaian and Ivorian National Soccer Teams as being amongst some of the strongest and toughest soccer teams he ever played against. During one of Lone Stars’ brutal encounters with the Ghana Black Stars, a French Soccer Federation Recruiting Agent expressed interest in recruiting John Monkey Brown and the legendary David Momoh, Lone Stars’ most renowned and most talked about, goalkeeper. (As some of you know, David Momoh passed away last year in Monrovia, Liberia, with little or no national recognition for his service to Liberia, a country he loved and represented with distinction in many international soccer games.)

Few weeks after the French Recruiter had met Monkey Brown and David Momoh in Ghana, the agent visited Liberia to negotiate the contract and transfer of these two Liberian soccer stars to a European soccer club. Mr. Chession, the Director of Sports for the Republic of Liberia at the time, met the French delegation in Monrovia in the absence of the two affected superstars. It is alleged that the Sports Director informed the French delegation that Monkey Brown and David Momoh had vowed never to play for any soccer club outside of Liberia, but to play and die for their country, Liberia. It took months after the delegation had departed Monrovia, Liberia, before John Monkey Brown and David Momoh were informed of the Director’s unilateral action.

Whether the Director made this decision out of malice to deliberately deprive these superstars the opportunity to excel and/or make financial fortune; or, whether he made this drastic decision in good faith in corroboration with the Liberian government in order to keep the Liberian National Soccer Team together and strong, we might never know. However, one thing is emphatically clear that the only chance Monkey Brown and David Momoh had to play soccer professionally abroad was crushed forever.

Despite the many setbacks Sir John Monkey Brown suffered during his days, he was highly optimistic in his belief that Liberia will one day rise from its years of inactions and selfishness to participate fully in professional sporting activities, including, but not necessarily limited to the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics. Albeit, he wants the Liberian government to build better playgrounds around the country to help increase and broaden our athletes’ performance and participation in organized sports nationally and internationally.

John Monkey Brown was a God fearing individual and a devoted Christian. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age. He is the only known soccer player from Barrolle and the Liberian Lone Star Soccer squad who never received a yellow or red card for minor and/or serious infraction during his playing career. He believed in fair play and respected his opponents even when the game was not in his favor. He spoke in low tone of voice and carefully and respectfully chose his words, which may his words more palatable for others to digest even when he was disagreeing with them.

John Monkey Brown was also a true family man. After his wife for over 30 years passed away, John Monkey Brown on March 30, 2003, was joined in holy wedlock to Ms Madia Smith whom he called his backbone and the love of his life. This union was blessed with nine children: Oretha Brown, Aloysius Brown, Comfort Brown, Mamie Richards, Wade Smith (all of these children are in Liberia); while Josephine Brown Sekajipo, Gloria Freeman, Sheila Wright, and Moses Smith Simpson (these children are here in the United States). His only son, John Monkey Brown Jr. (who was a complete replica of John Monkey Brown Sr. in every way, including but not necessarily limited to athletic ability and performance) predeceased his father. Monkey Brown was a member of the First Baptist Church of Charlotte, North Carolina. He leaves to mourn his death his lovely and charming wife, Mrs. Madia Smith Brown, nine children and thirteen nieces and nephews.

Dang, what's with these long @$$ posts? I'm exhausted just looking at it, reading a paragraph of this would be a waste of time when I have no intentions of reading the entire article. It would help some of us if you summarize and keep things at a minimum. Most people aren't going to read anything this long on, not unless they're are doing it for school or for some personal gain. Sleep

Remember that you always want to grab the attention and keep the interest of your readers. Keeping it short and simple is one way to do that. Just a suggestion.

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