In memory of former Leone Stars and Lions Skipper Golden Great James Strasser

By: Alusine Rehme Wilson – (AR-WILSON)

The football family in Sierra Leone is sadden by the death of James Strasser, one of the longest surviving former Sierra Leonean International and East End Lions forward who passed away in Freetown on June 10, and has been buried. His family has confirmed. 

The goal puncher died at age 83 and he will be remembered for being one of the greatest players of all times in Sierra Leone.

He was a famous seaman who played with barefoot in his era with E.E Lions in the late 1950s as a defender, midfielder and striker in Freetown where he made his debut for Lions in 1958 and scored his first goal for the club, his first of many after he was introduced to the Elders of the club by his closest friend, Amadu Okoro Kamara.

The former E.E Lions talisman won several League titles during his brief spell with the elite club and was loved by fans for his regular goal scoring ability though his soccer career was paired with fishing.

His space in the club’s starting XI was always reserved and each time he arrived from the sea his first spot will be the playing ground.

Late Strasser earned his maiden call up to the Sierra Leone National team, Leone Stars in 1959 before the country attained independence and was part of the squad that traveled to Gold Coast then now Ghana which marked his first international experience with the country’s senior side.

What has his son (Rodney Strasser) said about him?

Former AC Millan midfielder, Rodney Strasser who now plays for Finnish top flight TPS Veikkausliiga is the son of the late James Strasser. In an exclusive interview with Northern Times, he revealed that his father was his greatest rock and that he will be missed forever.

“I never saw him played because I wasn’t born at the time when he played for both East End Lions and Leone Stars but I was told his days as a player were amazing.

 “Put God first, be positive, work hard and believe in yourself are his regular words as advice to me, this plus every other moment with him I will forever miss.

“He made me played football and thankfully before his death he watched me played several games as a professional at both home and abroad for my national team-Leone Stars and was even in Italy at a point in time during my spell with AC Millan and he was proud of me.” Rodney recalled.