Determine Girls’ Coach Robert Lartey to Leave After Sixth Straight LFA Upper Women’s League Title
Robert Lartey announces departure from Determine Girls after guiding the club to a sixth consecutive LFA Upper Women’s League crown following a goalless draw that secured an unbeaten season.
Lartey Announces Exit After Sixth Straight Title
Robert Lartey, widely known as Coach Pella, confirmed he will step down from his role at Determine Girls after the club wrapped up a sixth straight LFA Upper Women’s League championship.
Speaking after the goalless draw that clinched the title, Lartey said he has achieved his objectives with the side and wants to open the door for new leadership.
He thanked supporters and staff for their backing but was clear that this will be his final season with the team.
Lartey also disclosed his intention to return to men’s football, though he did not name a potential next club.
Title Decider Ends in Goalless Draw
Friday’s decisive match against Shaita Angels finished 0-0, a result that left Determine Girls requiring only a draw to retain the championship.
Shaita Angels needed a victory to overtake the champions, but Determine Girls produced a disciplined and compact defensive performance to secure the point they needed.
The match itself was tight and tactically cautious, with both sides creating few clear chances and the emphasis falling on structure rather than flair.
For Determine Girls, the draw completed an unbeaten league campaign and delivered the club’s sixth consecutive domestic crown.
Season Numbers Highlight Dominance and Rivalry
Determine Girls finished the campaign unbeaten on 58 points from 18 wins and four draws, scoring 71 goals and conceding 11 for a goal difference of plus-60.
Shaita Angels pushed the champions to the wire, ending one point adrift on 57 with 18 wins, three draws and a single defeat, and they led the league in scoring with 82 goals and a superior goal difference of plus-74.
The statistics underline the narrow margin separating the two outfits: Determine Girls’ consistency across the season contrasted with Shaita Angels’ potent attack.
That slim points gap ensured the title was decided only on the final day, producing one of the most closely contested championship races in recent LFA women’s history.
Eligibility Dispute Delayed the Title Decider
The title decider had been postponed for more than a month after Determine Girls and Ravia Angels lodged a complaint over the eligibility of three foreign players fielded by Shaita Angels.
The players named in the protest were Kaddy Jarju, Z. Mary Nunoo and Comfort Osei Frimpong, with the clubs arguing that work and residence permits were not uploaded to the LFA Connect System as required by Article 3.1 of the LFA Rules and Regulations.
The LFA Grievance and Disciplinary Committee initially ruled in favour of the complaint and stripped Shaita Angels of points and goals.
However, the Appeals Committee later overturned that decision after ruling the protest, filed on May 26, 2026, was lodged beyond the 10-day deadline set out in Article 13.2.1, and that registration through the LFA Connect System constituted conclusive proof of eligibility absent evidence of fraud or deliberate noncompliance.
Champions Receive Financial and Continental Support
As league winners, Determine Girls will receive a US$25,000 prize from the Liberia Football Association and an additional US$100,000 in support from the Confederation of African Football to prepare for the CAF Women’s Champions League.
That financial backing is intended to assist the club’s preparations for continental competition, covering travel, logistics, training camps and other costs associated with representing Liberia on the African stage.
The club’s immediate focus will be to convert domestic momentum into a competitive showing at continental level.
The CAF support also reflects the growing investment in and importance of women’s club football across the region.
Lartey’s Track Record and Impact on Liberian Football
Lartey’s return to Determine Girls on a permanent basis in the 2024–25 season culminated in a historic treble, with the club securing the league title, the Orange Cup and the LFA Women’s Super Cup during that campaign.
He previously guided the side to their first regional success in 2022 by winning the WAFU A zonal qualifiers, which earned Liberia its first spot at the CAF Women’s Champions League finals in Morocco.
Across a lengthy coaching career, Lartey has accumulated success in both men’s and women’s football, claiming league titles and the FA Cup with clubs including BYC and LISCR FC.
His ability to combine tactical organisation with player development has left a clear imprint on the domestic game and on the players who have progressed under his stewardship.
Club Future and Next Steps After Lartey’s Exit
Determine Girls will now enter a transitional phase as they prepare for continental competition without the coach who led them to sustained domestic dominance.
The club’s leadership will have to identify a successor capable of maintaining performance standards while managing the logistical demands of a CAF campaign.
Squad continuity and retention of key players will be central to stability, especially given interest that could arise in standout performers following an unbeaten league season.
The new coach will inherit a well-drilled unit and a club with recent continental experience, but must also navigate the expectations that accompany six consecutive titles.
The announcement from Robert Lartey closes a dominant chapter for Determine Girls while opening a fresh one for both the club and Liberian women’s football as a whole.
As the team prepares for the CAF Women’s Champions League, attention will turn to the search for a new head coach and the task of translating domestic supremacy into regional success.
