Africari Football Club

The auspicious beginning of our soccer club was the brainchild of Mr. Tamba Davis, a Liberian, and Mr. Clyde Lochin, a Trinidadian, hence the name Africari. The first four teams began in 1989 with its home grounds at Vallejo Middle School. This combination of African and Caribbean soon struck its goal of success, not only to be reckoned in the C–division but to embody the spirit of inclusion through soccer and community participation. While the team was in Vallejo, the Vallejo News Monday edition covered and reported the results of all of the Sunday matches of Africari, once even meeting with the then-city mayor as a team before a game in 1990.

In 1992, Mr. Clyde Lochin relocated, leaving Mr. Davis to keep the team going strong through the C-division, advancing to the B-division with many victories and some defeats, capstone with a glorious championship. In 1996, Mr. Davis handed the club’s mentoring to Mr. Carey Thomas; in 2000, he teamed up with Mr. Manu Keita in managing the team, soon to be joined by an original member who remains a cornerstone of the club, Mr. Roger Alphonso. Since then, he and Mr. Thomas have kept the leadership and traditions of success with one love and dignity alive.

Africari soon found its way to many championships in the B-division, finally advancing to a comfortable home in the top tier of the A-division in the EBSSL. Under this leadership, with the many contributions of many along the way, Africari has grown to 4 teams in the league.

In 2002–2004, Africari went undefeated, capturing all three trophies. The A-division league cup, Referee’s cup and the much-coveted Associations cup championship. Players from five continents and some 24 languages represent the team’s composition. From 2006 to 2007, Africari was managed by Mr. Nigel Jones and Roger Alphonso. All four teams shared the Richmond Kennedy High School home facility at the time.