Limón Black Star

Limón
Full nameLimón Black Star
NicknameLimonenses
Founded28 April 2022
Dissolved12 August 2025
GroundEstadio Juan Gobán
Limón, Costa Rica
Capacity3,000
PresidentCristian Williams
LeagueLiga de Ascenso
Apertura 202310°

Limón Black Star was a Costa Rican association football team based in Limón. It was founded to compete 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 served as 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. Moreover, the team used 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.[1]

In August 2025, the Costa Rican Football Federation revoked the professional licenses to both Turrialba and Limón Black Star, owing to financial irregularities in the license evaluation process.[2] Four days later, the United States Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control added the team to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List due to its links to Celso Gamboa, former Minister of Security, and the drug-related investigation against him.[3][4]

In late 2025, following the disappearance of Limón Black Star, a new successor team called Limón United was created.[5]

History

The club pays homage to Limón's Liberty Hall, also known as Black Star Line

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.[6] Despite efforts to nullify the 2020–21 Liga FPD season and avoid relegation,[7] 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.[8] By January 2022, Limón had accumulated over ₡98 million in debts to the Security Fund.[9] 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.[10]

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.[11][12] On 28 April 2022, the acquisition of Marineros was officially confirmed, and the team was renamed to Limón Black Star.[13] 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.[14]

Sanctions

On 28 May 2025, the President of Costa Rica Rodrigo Chaves signed a constitutional reform to allow the extradition of Costa Rican nationals accused of drug trafficking and terrorism.[15] A month later, former Minister of Security Celso Gamboa was arrested by the Judicial Investigation Department (OIJ) per request of the United States' Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), awaiting extradition.[16] According to a DEA's report, Gamboa acted as a regional leader for Mexico's Gulf Cartel and its operations in drug trafficking between Colombia, Central America, Mexico, and the United States.[17]

Gamboa's arrest left Costa Rican news outlets questioning his relationship with Limón Black Star. On 24 June 2025, La Teja's Sergio Alvarado inquired Black Star's president Cristian Williams, who said that the arrest was "a personal issue for Gamboa" and that he had no involvement with the club.[18] Skeptical about Williams' response, ElMundoCR's Ferlin Fuentes recalled a text that Williams himself posted on social media in 2022, shortly after the club's foundation, in which he stated that he and Gamboa promised the people of Limón that they will have a football team back in the town and that this would not be possible without Gamboa.[19] Two days later, La Teja's Alejandra Morales indicated that, according to the DEA's report, Celso Gamboa and a man named Edwin Vega López (known as "Pecho de Rata") used a professional team based in Limón for money laundering; she also pointed that the only professional team in Limón was Black Star.[20]

In July 2025, the Costa Rican Football Federation opened an investigation on two Segunda División teams, one of them being Limón Black Star, because of irregularities in financial proceedings during the license granting process for the 2025–26 season.[21] A month later, amidst a wave of license suspension of Costa Rican teams, the Federation revoked Black Star's license, relegating the team to amateur status.[22] All appealings requested by the clubs were dismissed.[23][24]

Four days after having its professional license revoked, the team was added to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List by the United States Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control due to its links with Celso Gamboa.[3][4]

In June 2026, further investigations by the OIJ revealed that a former Black Star player, Elking Scoby, played a significant role in Gamboa and Vega López's drug-trafficking organization.[25] Scoby was described by the Investigation Department as a "relevant collaborator", serving in "operational support regarding storage, transportation, and distribution of narcotic substances".[26]

Stadium

Estadio Juan Gobán

The Juan Gobán Stadium is a soccer stadium located in Limón, head of the province of the same name, on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica.

In February 2010, a synthetic turf measuring 91 meters long by 72 meters wide was installed. The following reforms included the construction of boxes, press areas, complete remodeling of the dressing rooms and installation of artificial lighting.

In September 2010, the Juan Gobán stadium was reopened after a series of renovations that involved a year and a half of work, in addition to an investment of close to $1 million, 800 thousand dollars.

Among the novelties is the expansion of the dressing room area from two to four, a weight room, a doping room, laundry, four sodas, two offices, the installation of 20 restrooms and a VIP area for 220 people. In addition to the total replacement of the roof of the shadow grandstand.

In general, the capacity of the redoubt was expanded to 2,349 people. The stadium was home to the Limon F.C. of the First Division of Costa Rica from 2010 to 2020.

Current squad

As of 23 July 2023.[27]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK  CRC Ricardo Montenegro
— GK  CRC José Velázquez
— GK  CRC Darién Hidalgo
— DF  CRC Shain Brown
— DF  CRC Darlon Level
— DF  CRC Jonaiker Gamboa
— DF  CRC Carlos Quirós
— DF  CRC Adrián Chévez
— DF  CRC Elking Scoby
— DF  CRC Sheldon Harris
— DF  CRC Landon Calderón
— DF  CRC Shawmark Hodgson
— MF  CRC Johnny Gordon
— MF  CRC José Torres
— MF  CRC Jeyson Powell
— MF  CRC Jurguen Esquivel
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF  CRC Guillermo Leal
— MF  CRC Alexander Espinoza
— MF  CRC Kane Ujueta
— MF  CRC Justin Ramírez
— MF  CRC Keymark Davis
— MF  CRC Deanmark Brumley
— MF  CRC Cristian Flores
— MF  CRC Kwame Bayles
— MF  CRC Kedrish Picado
— MF  CRC Johnny Myrie
— FW  CRC Froylán Alfaro
— FW  CRC Darnell Barthley
— FW  CRC Jonedzel López
— FW  CRC Slahuko Jawnyj
— FW  CRC Brandon Solís
— FW  CRC Kendal Wilson

Personnel

The initial staff members were announced on 28 April 2022.[28] Aside from the members listed below, Carlos Watson and Juan Cayasso have also been mentioned as collaborators.[29]

The staff as of 23 July 2023[27] was as follows:

Current technical staff

PositionStaff
Head coachCosta Rica Marvin Solano
Assistant coachCosta Rica Erick Ortiz
Assistant coachCosta Rica Erick Scott
Fitness coachCosta Rica José Villachica
Goalkeeping coachCosta Rica Dexter Lewis
Equipment managerCosta Rica Carlos Araica
Massage therapistCosta Rica Fernando Ford
Physical therapistCosta Rica Beatriz Álvarez

Management

PositionStaff
PresidentCosta Rica Cristian Williams
Sporting directorCosta Rica Juan Cayasso

See also

References

  1. ↑ Arroyo, Franklin (2 June 2022). "Limonenses están a gusto con nuevo proyecto de Limón Black Star". La Teja (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  2. ↑ Fuentes, Ferlin (13 August 2025). "Comité de Licencias envía a Turrialba y Limón Black Star al fútbol aficionado tras investigación de ElMundo.CR". El Mundo CR (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Sanctions List Search". sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  4. 1 2 Montenegro, Milton (18 August 2025). "Estados Unidos sanciona al Limón Black Star, equipo de fútbol de Costa Rica". La Nación (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  5. ↑ Montoya, Martin (23 November 2025). "Conozca a Limón United, el nuevo equipo de futbol de los limonenses". Limón Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  6. ↑ Mendoza, Adrián (26 May 2021). "Limón FC: sanciones, despidos y crisis que terminan en un amargo descenso | Crhoy.com". CRHoy.com | Periodico Digital | Costa Rica Noticias 24/7 (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  7. ↑ Herrera, Walter (26 May 2021). "Limón F.C. apelaría el descenso y la temporada 2020-2021" [Limón F.C. would appeal relegation and the 2020-2021 season]. La República (in Spanish). San José, Costa Rica. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  8. ↑ Araya, José Fernando (6 August 2021). "Limón no debutará en Liga de Ascenso por deudas con la CCSS". Teletica. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  9. ↑ Vargas, Dinia (29 January 2022). "Deudas, atrasos y problemas de licencia: Limón FC se hunde a la espera de un milagro | Crhoy.com". CRHoy.com | Periodico Digital | Costa Rica Noticias 24/7 (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  10. ↑ Gutiérrez, César (12 February 2022). "Limón F.C. con 61 años de historia desciende al fútbol de canchas abiertas - El Guardián CR". El Guardián (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  11. ↑ Herrera, Walter (22 February 2022). ""El público está de luto en Limón por la desaparición del club": Celso Gamboa" ["The public is mourning in Limón for the disappearance of the club": Celso Gamboa]. La República (in Spanish). San José, Costa Rica. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  12. ↑ Herrera, Walter (17 February 2022). "Celso Gamboa a un paso de trasladar franquicia de Marineros a Limón" [Celso Gamboa one step away from moving Marineros franchise to Limón]. La República (in Spanish). San José, Costa Rica. Retrieved 7 February 2025.
  13. ↑ Arroyo, Franklin (28 April 2022). "Limón tendrá un nuevo equipo en la segunda división". La Teja (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  14. ↑ Arroyo, Franklin (25 May 2022). "Equipo Limón Black Star ya tiene escudo y bandera". La Teja (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  15. ↑ "Costa Rica Approves Extradition of Nationals for Drug Trafficking and Terrorism". ticotimes.net. AFP. 29 May 2025. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  16. ↑ Rojas, Johan (23 June 2025). "OIJ detiene a Celso Gamboa para extraditarlo por solicitud de la DEA | CR Hoy". CR Hoy | Periodico Digital | Costa Rica Noticias 24/7 (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  17. ↑ "DEA identificó a Celso Gamboa como "líder regional del Cartel del Golfo", revelan informes". El Observador CR (in Spanish). 25 June 2025. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  18. ↑ Alvarado, Sergio (24 June 2025). "Celso Gamboa y su relación con Limón Black Star y el fútbol nacional". La Teja (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  19. ↑ Fuentes, Ferlin (24 June 2025). "¿Qué tenía que ver Celso Gamboa con Limón Black Star?". El Mundo CR (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  20. ↑ Morales, Alejandra (26 June 2025). "Celso Gamboa habría lavado dinero con equipo de fútbol, según extenso informe de la DEA". La Teja (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  21. ↑ Fuentes, Ferlin (18 July 2025). "Fedefútbol abre investigación financiera sobre Turrialba y Limón Black Star". El Mundo CR (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  22. ↑ Fuentes, Ferlin (13 August 2025). "Comité de Licencias envía a Turrialba y Limón Black Star al fútbol aficionado tras investigación de ElMundo.CR". El Mundo CR (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  23. ↑ Vargas, Dinia (19 September 2025). "Licencias rechazó recurso a Guanacasteca, Turrialba y Limón Black Star | CR Hoy". CR Hoy | Periodico Digital | Costa Rica Noticias 24/7 (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  24. ↑ RodríguezCampos, Juan Pablo (30 January 2026). "Tribunal de Apelaciones de la Federación desestima reclamos de Limón y Turrialba • Semanario Universidad" (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  25. ↑ Araya, José Fernando (23 June 2026). "Estos son los exfutbolistas que el OIJ vincula con supuesto cártel de "Pecho de Rata"". Teletica (in European Spanish). Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  26. ↑ Murillo, José Adelio; Vargas, Dinia (25 June 2026). "Exfutbolista era "colaborador relevante" de Pecho de Rata en tareas de narcotráfico | CR Hoy". CR Hoy | Periodico Digital | Costa Rica Noticias 24/7 (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  27. 1 2 "Limón Black Star on Twitter". Twitter. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  28. ↑ Herrera, Walter (28 April 2022). "¡Volvió la fiesta! Limón Black Star nace de las cenizas" [The party is back! Black Star Lemon Rises From The Ashes]. La República (in Spanish). San José, Costa Rica. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  29. ↑ Alpizar, María (19 May 2022). "Carlos Watson regresa a las canchas". El Mundo. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
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