20/10/2025
USA Veterans Mourn Coach Tabla's Death
The USA Veterans are in shock as a result of the death of their coach; Robert Tablah. The former winger was a committed coach and in fact a reliable memberof the club, from the days of active football up to the First Division National league of the Liberia Football Association (LFA), to years of non-competitive or inactive football.
The chat room of the organization since Sunday, has been flooded with the sad news of the coach's demise with an official statement from the dynamic CEO Prince Opoku Walker, expected to be released soon as the humanitarian, Walker, is in shock as well as the news of coach Tabla's death has taken over various social media platforms. According to the USA Veterans chairman; Mark Innocent Jadoe, the coach gave the ghost by 11:pm Sunday night with his body since deposited at the Butlers funeral parlous.
Coach Tabla started like many others as a promising player, showcasing his talent with various clubs and particularly announced himself as a budding star when he was an integral part of the Forestry Development Authority, (FDA) Foresters Football club, that made headways in the Liberian top flight in the 90's.
It can be recollected that during the inaugural edition of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Cup , Tabla was part of that ambitious FDA side that faced Ghanaian elite club Accra Hearts of Oak with the first leg played on July 17,1993 at the Antoinette Tubman Stadium (ATS). Tabla marauded down the right flank with his pace and trickery as he proved a handful combining with star men Robert Jojo and Abel Kablee as the defensive duo of Thompson Tarr and Thomas Watson kept things tight and the first half ended goaless
But then in the second period, something strange happened when it was signalled from the match commissioner's table that Tabla who was having a lively game was being substituted. This did not go down well with the fans as the echoes of No!No!!,No!!! were all over, but the substitution still took place as the steam in the team's attack was no more and Hearts of Oak won 2-0 with the dangerman Shamo Leather Quaye getting one of the goals, celebrating, shaking his index finger, pointing to the fans like sending a warning out to them.
It was a further bigger score in the second leg in Accra when FDA Foresters lost by a wider margin of 5-1. But, Tablah's cameo in the first leg at the ATS was a tip of the iceberg as the calm player down the wings made in-roads in his career and had a stint in Senegal with fellow countrymen, Stephen "Goal King" Weah, Anthony Jomah Ballah and young Lato went for pasture green in the west African nation.
Coach Tabla will be missed. He will be remembered for his drive in identifying and developing young talents, a hardworking coach who was always in the streets, communities and on various football pitches discovering talents.
From coaching in the Inter School Sports Association, (ISSA), league with the Sekou I. Sheriff Institute in the JJY community, one of the schools he worked with, to club like the entertaining Devoil Trainee in Chocolate City , Tabla made his mark, contributed his quota as he was never short of the passion and left an indelible mark for his work over the years. A vacuum has been created, but his memory will live on and his name and good work will continue to resonate with Liberian football connoisseurs at home and abroad.
The football community say: Rest In Peace Coach Tabla, Puchu boy...we love you but God Almighty, the Divine Architect of our Destiny, the King of Kings and the LORD of LORDs, the Ancient of Days loves you the Best.
Take your Rest, until we meet on that judgment day where it is said "we will recognize each other, but there will be no communication"
As it is written in 1 Thessalonians 5:18: In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
To God be the glory.
Photos: 1.Coach Tabla In a tooth pick smile
2. Coach Tabla in black cap, red t-shirt in a group photo before a friendly match between USA Veterans and Lone Star players led by Anthony Snorti Laffor on August 25, 2025 at the TUSA stadium
