Warren “Laga” Archibald was a Trinidad soccer forward who spent one season in the United Soccer Association and nine in the North American Soccer League, earning 1973 MVP honours.
Education
Archibald attended Saint Benedict’s College in Trinidad.
Career
He
also played professionally in Mexico and Haiti and was a mainstay of the
Trinidad and Tobago national team from 1968 to 1976. In 1967, he signed with
the New York Generals of the National Soccer League. in 1968, the NPSL merged
with the United Soccer Association to form the North American Soccer League.
The Generals folded after the 1968 NASL season.
Archibald left the NASL at this point. Some sources indicate that he may have
played for San Luis F.C. in Mexico and Victory Sportif Club in Haiti. That may
have been during this time.
Regardless, in 1970, Archibald signed with the Washington Darts of the NASL. He
was selected as a second team All Star in both 1970 and 1971 with the Darts. In
1972, the Darts moved to Florida to become the Miami Gatos. In 1973, the team
was renamed the Toros.
That season, Archibald was voted NASL MVP and a first team All Star. He was a
second team All Star again in 1974. In 1976, Archibald began the season with
the Toros, but was traded after three games to the Rochester Lancers.
By this time, his scoring touch was fading and he netted only one goal in
fourteen games in Rochester. In April 1977, the Lancers released Archibald. The
Trinidad and Tobago team had five goals controversially disallowed against
Haiti and fell two points short of qualifying.
He was first a regular with the Trinidad and Tobago national team from at least
17 November 1968/9 when it lost 4–0 to Guatemala in World Cup qualifying until
28 November 1976 when it tied Surinam 2–2.
Achievements
- Archibald was a member of the Trinidad and Tobago national team for the 1973 CONCACAF Championship to qualify for the 1974 FIFA World Cup when Trinidad and Tobago defeated Mexico by four goals to nil.
A Legacy of Greatness 