Laffor Describes 'Expulsion' Shocking


By Wleh Bedell
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Monrovia-One of three Liberia Lone Star players recently expelled by the Liberia Football Association (LFA) for what they term as 'Misgiving conduct' has sharply reacted to his expulsion describing it as shocking.

At a news conference held in Sinkor, Monrovia, scampering winger Anthony Snorti Laffor, who plies his trade with South African outfit Mamelodi Sundowns indicated that the LFA's decision to expel him along with the other two players Francis Doe of Malaysian club Terranganu and Sweden side BK Hacken as something that sounds too prone to believe as Laffor said "personally, the decision by the LFA to expel me is too shocking as I have never boycotted camp or engaged in misgiving conduct as reported by the LFA", Laffor noted.

At a pack press conference, the former Lone Star Captain narrated that since joining the senior national team in 2003, he has always given his all as he has shown commitment, discipline and enthusiasm in playing for his country. "Through my hard work over the years, I was appointed captain in 2010 and I have since continued to put in my best for country", Laffor stated.

He then said since joining the Lone Star he has played under seven coaches including locals, kadalla Kromah, Joseph 'Kofi Bruce' Sayon, Frank Jericho Nagbe, the German Antoine Hey, Bertalan Bicskei (deceased) from Hungary and the Italian Roberto Landi before current coach Joseph kaetu Smith and there has being no time he ever behaved unruly or acted wrongly on camp or do anything negative that would hinder the progress of the team or lessen his character.

According to Laffor, he was out injured prior to the end of the season as he missed some games for his club, but decided to honor his country's call when invited for the match for Senegal on June 2. "I came from South Africa injured and upon my arrival to Monrovia, I immediately informed the Coach (kaetu Smith), player George Gebro who has now being made captain as well as the team doctor and the team manager that I was injured.

"The coach then said that the national team has a good doctor and that I will be treated. "Since then i have taken 22 injections to enable me play against Senegal and then Angola, and after the match with Angola I told the coach that i was tired of taking injection and that i needed to rest as the treatment was not proper, and that since I was soon to leave for my base in South Africa, I wanted to rest properly, where I will not go for the Namibia game to get back to South Africa and then do proper treatment".

The player intimated that the Coach agreed, but he was quick to point out that the coach had earlier told him prior to the Angola match that he was going to expel him for no reason given. "The following day, the coach came back to me saying he had reconsidered his decision but that I was not going to be a part of the starting line up and I said ok, you are the coach whatever you say is the final".

 But, Laffor noted that he had phoned LFA president Musa Bility right before the team manager Sebastain Collins on the decision the coach had said he was making to expel him, and with Bility then in Ghana on the Friday prior to the match said upon his return he would get in touch with the coach.

The former Jomo Cosmos man also opined that he pleaded with the coach not to make the trip to Namibia "Look, the Lone Star is not a club for children. "The technical director Henry Brown and Coach kaetu Smith had a team meeting with the players asking those who were willing to make the trip to Namibia to raise their hands. "I did not raise mine and once again told them that I was not going due to the severe injury which they agreed to", the towering wide man told journalists.

On the assertion by the LFA that they violated the players code of conduct, Snorti noted "Since i joined the national team, I have never signed any document in the form of code of conduct they claim I violated, and let the LFA show to you the journalists the document they are talking about", the one time LISCR play maker said.

He then brushed aside a story on Supersport website describing him as a trouble maker as he noted he was not surprised by the negative story as during his time at the club, they always wanted him to play matches under injury, something he said he was very much against as he said such was in no way good or save for his career. "I remember those years then, and they are now branding me as a trouble maker because i refused to succumb to their bad nature of letting me play under injury", the highly discipline Lone Star player asserted.

Also, the player rubbished claims that he and others told the LFA that in the past the likes of George Oppong Weah and James Salinsa Debbah often violated camp rules and behaved in ugly manner and the LFA then failed to punish them, but why was they LFA punishing or restricting them now. "I cannot speak for the others, but i have and will never make such statement. "I will always be Laffor and not Weah or anyone else. "I respect ambassador Weah and others who promoted the Lone Star greatly over the years, and i cannot in any way compare myself with them. "Such statement is untrue and is only intended to tarnish my good reputation i have built over the years".

Noted Laffor: I have always been respectful, discipline and committed to the national team. I am not a trouble maker. The Coach (Kaetu Smith) was fully aware of me leaving camp and he did agree for me to leave camp and not make the trip to Namibia in order to rest on my injury.

I have always respected all coaches, fellow players, fans and all stakeholders, and I have never been an out of order player. I owe no one apology because i did no wrong and by God's willing I will be back on the national team. I urge you the journalists to do an independent investigation on the entire issue and then inform the Liberian people and the rest of the world on the true story. I would like to wish the Lone Star well in the Saturday's match with Namibia, and I will be in my red, white and blue in support of them. I think the decision by the LFA was premeditated and I once again implore you to do an independent investigation.