Armada FC's Joseph Toby Is Succeeding In Adopted Home After Leaving War-Torn Sierra Leone As A Teen

As a teenager, Joseph Toby left Sierra Leone, which was ravaged by civil war, and came to America for a better life. He was 15 years old, shy, and in an unknown country.

The native of Freetown did have one familiarity, though – a soccer ball. The sport he always loved helped him come out of his shell in high school in Florida, after transferring to Wolfson High School.

“Soccer helped me because that’s the first thing I thought about when I came to America – looking for where to play,” Toby told NASL.com.

He noted he would play every Sunday, and eventually for local club teams, high school, and at Flagler College, which is 50 miles south of Jacksonville.

After spending a season with Arizona United in USL Pro, the 26-year-old is back in Jacksonville, playing for the Armada FC, and hoping to win as many trophies as he can for his adopted home.

 “I grew up 10-15 minutes away, so it feels great to be back and playing for my home team,” he said. “Jacksonville is my home since I’ve been here since I was 15.

“It’s special. I want to do everything I can to help the team win, no matter what.”

Growing up in the area, Toby didn’t have a team to look up to, or dream to play for. He is, however, glad that kids growing up in Jacksonville and the surrounding area have that chance with the Armada FC in its inaugural season in the NASL.

“I’m really happy that Jacksonville has a pro team that kids can look up to,” he said. “When I was growing up there was no team to look up to, so I was looking to go out of town. Now when they grow up, kids have the Armada to look up to.”

While Toby hasn’t been back to his native country since he left 11 years ago, his ties to the African nation are still very strong. His mother and sister, as well as many friends, are still in Sierra Leone. The defender is also hoping to represent the Leone Stars on the international stage during his career.

Currently, his brother Solomon Morris, who plays with Quevilly in France, is a goalkeeper at the international level. Toby noted that his brother has given his name to the coach, and if the Armada FC player has success, it could open up those doors.

His family and friends are already proud of his accomplishments, though, and getting a chance to represent the national team would only add to that.

“They’re all proud of me for coming from Sierra Leone, a war-torn area, and going to school, finishing school, and doing what I love playing soccer,” he said. “They’re expecting me to come back and play for the national team.”

Whether it’s with the national team or not, Toby is hoping to make it back to his native country, depending on if it’s safe to travel. The nation has been afflicted, and still is afflicted, with Ebola.

“I was thinking of going back after the season, in December, but I don’t know if I can because of all the stuff that is going on with Ebola,” Toby said. “If everything is cleared up, I might go back and see what I can do to help. I still help and collect things from here and send them back home.”

In Jacksonville, Toby has played in four NASL matches over the course of the Spring Season, scoring his first goal for the club, and the first local player to do so, in a thrilling 3-3 draw against the New York Cosmos.

“I add my strength, my speed, my determination to win every ball, to go hard into tackles, to be strong, and listen to my teammates and captain,” he said on what he adds to the Armada FC.

Showing plenty of determination on and off the pitch to this point, more success should only be on the horizon for Toby.