MONROVIA, Montserrado – Liberia first division club Watanga has signed a young striker, Chauncy Freeman, as part of their plan to compete in the second phase of the national league.

Freeman joined Watanga from third division club Swankamore for a fee of L$18,000 (US$200).

Despite interest from FC Fassell, Barrack Young Controller II, and Invincible Eleven, the 16-year old striker decided to join Watanga after several weeks of trial with the club.

Speaking to The Bush Chicken after signing the contract, Freeman expressed his delight in joining the club and vowed to help the club with a top-four finish at the end of the ongoing league campaign.

“I am happy that the deal has now come through. I have been here for more than a month just to have the contract completed. Watanga is a great club with great vision. I believe in the vision,” he said after signing with the team. “As a striker, my job is to score. That is what I’m here to do. I came to help the club improve. It’s a new challenge, and I look forward to facing it. I came to help the club, and I pray we grab a top-four finish at the end of the league.”

Watanga sits sixth on the Liberian Football Association’s first division table with 13 points, 17 behind league leaders, Barrack Young Controllers.

Freeman further praised the Swankamore leadership for the confidence they placed in him during his time with the club and noted that despite his love for Swankamore, it was time for him to ascend to a higher level of football.

“Swankamore has been so good to me,” the young striker said. “The club has shown me every love as a player. They trusted me as a footballer and helped improve my game. I will never forget such a club that did everything possible for me to reach this level. I love the club, and I would have loved to stay to play another year, but I have to move onto the next level of my game. I feel it’s the right time, and I’m making use of the opportunity.”

Freeman played for Todd Football Club at the third division level for a single season, before joining Swankamore in 2013.

Featured photo by T. Kla Wesley, Jr.