By: West African Pilot Sports Desk
In the sun-drenched football fields of Maryland County, a young keeper’s gloves are being soaked with sweat, ambition, and the hopes of a nation.
Gifty Freeman, the 18-year-old goalkeeper who has been the defining force of the Southeast Regional Playoffs, has officially signed for Shaita Angel FC, the Liberian Super Falconets, in a move that signals both the rise of one exceptional talent and the growing strength of women’s football in Liberia.
Born on May 16, 2008, in Pleebo City, Maryland County, Gifty’s journey to the goalposts is anything but conventional. Her love affair with the beautiful game began in 2019, when a young girl first kicked a ball with dreams far bigger than her small coastal hometown.
Yet her path to becoming a goalkeeper was not a straight line. She began her football life as an attacker, chasing goals and glory at the other end of the pitch before the cold, calculated art of shot-stopping called her name.
It was a transformation that would define her career. Today, Gifty Freeman is not merely a goalkeeper; she is a specialist in the most ruthless department of the game, the penalty shootout. Her composure under pressure has made her the wall that Pleebo FC leaned on, and the shot-stopper opponents’ dread facing when the scoreline hangs in the balance.
The Dream Beyond the Net
For Gifty, this transfer is only a stepping stone. In an exclusive chat with the West African Pilot, she laid bare her ambitions with the kind of clarity that separates champions from merely talented players:
“It has always been my dream to play for the Liberia National Team and not just to wear the jersey, but to carry Liberia all the way to the FIFA Women’s World Cup.”
It is a bold vision and one that speaks to a broader awakening in Liberian women’s football. With the Super Falconets now securing talents like Gifty, the foundation for a future World Cup campaign is quietly being laid, one fearless keeper at a time.
A Heart Full of Gratitude
Despite her soaring trajectory, Gifty has not forgotten the roots that nurtured her. She took time to thank the people of Pleebo City and her former club, Pleebo FC, for the foundation they provided:
“Everything I am today, I owe to the people of Pleebo City. They believed in me when I was just a girl with big dreams. I will never forget them.”
And to the young girls and boys of Maryland still chasing their own dreams, she offered a simple but powerful message:
“Always remain focused. The road is hard, but the reward is worth every drop of sweat.”
The Road Ahead
As Gifty Freeman dons the colours of Shaita Angel FC / Liberian Super Falconets, the Southeast Regional stands proud; knowing one of its own is now carrying their flag onto a larger stage. Her story from attacker to goalkeeper, from Pleebo to the national conversation is a testament to the power of focus, faith, and fearless ambition.
The West African Pilot will be watching her journey closely. If her performances in the regional playoffs are anything to go by, Liberia’s future between the sticks is in very safe hands.
The West African Pilot which stands as Liberia’s first cooperative newspaper have not just developed this sport article about Gifty Freeman ,but have made it known to provide you our readers Verified Facts surrounding Gifty’s football journey:
- Full Name: Gifty Freeman
- Date of Birth: May 16, 2008 (Age 18)
- Former Club: Pleebo FC
- New Club: Shaita Angel FC / Liberian Super Falconets
- Position: Goalkeeper (began career as attacker)
- Specialty: Penalty saving
- Origin: Maryland County, Pleebo City
- Career Start: 2019
- Current Highlight: Southeast Regional Playoffs standout