Limon Black Star
- Leagues Played
- Costa Rica Segunda 72 Club Friendly List 1 Costa Rica Cup 1
- Links
- Wikipedia
Wikipedia - Limón Black Star
Limón Black Star is a Costa Rican association football team based in Limón. It is set to make its debut in the Segunda División de Costa Rica, starting in the 2022–23 season.
The team originated in the aftermath of Limón's demise in 2021 due to financial irregularities. Local businessmen purchased the franchise of Marineros de Puntarenas to relocate the team to Limón.
Its name is an homage to the Liberty Hall, commonly known as the Black Star Line Building. This hall, which was destroyed by fire in April 2016, was an important landmark of downtown Limón, and a symbol of Afro–Costa Ricans, particularly those within the Limón Province.
The team uses the Pan-African colours in homage to the Rastafari movement, ditching the traditional green and white colors used by previous teams in the city such as Limonense and Limón.
History
During the first half of 2021, Limón entered "a series of bad decisions" that ultimately led to the team's relegation to the Liga de Ascenso. Despite efforts to nullify the 2020–21 Liga FPD season and avoid relegation, the club's situation worsened. The club had accumulated numerous delayed payments to the Costa Rican Social Security Fund, which prevented them from playing matches in the Liga de Ascenso. By January 2022, Limón had accumulated over ₡98 million in debts to the Security Fund. The club could not solve the situation and was officially relegated to the Tercera Division de Costa Rica, losing its category as a professional team.
Immediately after the team's disappearance, former administrative manager Celso Gamboa announced his intentions of acquiring the franchise of Marineros de Puntarenas, a team based in Puntarenas that struggled in coexisting with the more traditional Puntarenas F.C. On 28 April 2022, the acquisition of Marineros was officially confirmed, and the team was renamed to Limón Black Star. The name is an allusion of the Liberty Hall, also known as the Black Star Line, a prominent landmark in downtown Limón and a symbol of Afro-Costa Rican culture, which was destroyed by a fire in April 2016.
On 25 May 2022, the new team's administration announced the badge and colours, adopting the Pan-African colouring due to the Rastafari movement and the city's historical ties with the Afro-Caribbean people.
The Limon Black Star team is known for their fast-paced and attacking style of play, thrilling fans with their skillful ball control and strategic gameplay. They have a strong fan base in Limon and throughout Costa Rica, with supporters known for their passionate and unwavering dedication to the team.
The team has a strong roster of talented players, both local and international, who work together to achieve success on the field. The Limon Black Star team has won numerous championships and titles in Costa Rica, solidifying their reputation as one of the top teams in the country.
Overall, the Limon Black Star soccer team is a powerhouse in Costa Rican football, known for their exciting style of play, dedicated fan base, and history of success on the field.