The LFA was compelled to not just drop the professional players, as recommended by national team coach Kaetu Smith, but to expel Captain Anthony Laffor (South Africa), Dioh Williams (Sweden) and Francis Grandpa Doe (Malaysia) from the national team with immediate effect.
The three players have been mandated to immediately take advantage of their return tickets and return to their clubs or the tickets will be cancelled in 24 hours.
The affected players were part of the Sunday June 10, 2012 zero-all-tie at home to Angola in the 2014 World cup qualifier in Monrovia.
LFA says it has become imperative to rid the three players from the team based on their constant uncontrollable behaviors including late arrival for practice sessions and constant boycott of camp among others, all in violation of sections 4-23 of the National team player code of conduct.
Speaking to the Communications Department of the LFA, Coach Smith said the affected players (and three others) were earlier fined US$1,000 each for violating the code of conduct following the teams’ arrival from Dakar, Senegal on June 4, 2012.
The players, Dioh and Francis, had arrived on camp 12 midnight while Laffor stayed away from the camp three days before retuning. They argued why the LFA will attempt to restrict them and deny them of their freedom when it could not restrict former national team players like James Debbah and George Weah.
The players’ constant misconduct came to an uncompromising state when their misconduct contributed to the team missing its Delta flight to Ghana en route to Namibia on Monday June 11, 2012. As a result, the LFA has lost close to US$20,000 in extra charges for the team’s overnight stay in Accra, Ghana.
The team now leaves Wednesday June 13 and stay in Ghana for about 27 hours before leaving for Namibia for the African Nations cup match on Saturday June 16.
According to Coach Smith, George Gebro will replace Laffor as captain of the team.
Two of the expelled players, Dioh and Fancis, including Dulee Johnson, were expelled in September 2010 by the late national team coach Bertalan Bicskie on similar grounds just a day to Liberia’s opening match in the 2012 African Nations cup qualifier at home to Zimbabwe on September 5, 2010. Constant appeal from all sectors of society brought them back to the team after several months.
Few seconds to the posting of the suspension of the three players on the LFA’s facebook’s page, keen followers of the game posted three remarks:
Andy Quamie it was because of the LFA support that you see the story on the internet. Still hoping that these guys will see reasons to repent sooner, as Liberia donot need distraction at the moment till after sunday.
Alphonso Walker They are not good so don’t bring them back anymore. These are players that will bring disrespect to the coach or cause other players to start disrespecting authority. As a leader you should be the first to coordinate your house before the children can follow. A better program will build more players.
Gargar Adolphus I dont blame these guys....
Kelvin Browne Great decision, indiscipline players
Toyuwa Harris This is the same reason we did not go to the world cup…Indiscipline...The role models for these kids laid the ground work...Now they expect to be treated like Debbeh ...Debbeh used to score ...All 3 of them played 2 games a 1 goal and they Bulffing..what would they have done if they had won ?
Isaac C. Yeah Very good decision Coach Smith, indiscipline players have no place on this new Lone Star, even if we do not qualify, these players should not be invited any more.Look at a player like Anthony Laffor trying to compare himself with Debbah and... Weah, he should be ashamed of himself. His performance as National Team Captain has been below standard, I wish he knew this. This is what Jericho Nagbe and other Coaches failed to do the past, but I am not surprise, Coach Smith is a disciplinarian.
D-rod Junius Doeyeamy Guys that are not playing in any major league keep during dump shit every day, if you guys want to come party in Liberia then pay your own way n stop depending on the LFA to send tickets and do not doing what are required. There should be no forgiving this time around, let the so called big guys go, let us see.
Francis Gobeh Tellewoyan Substitute player for Mamelodi Sundown of South Africa wants compare himself with our legends? You right pekin...you only able to beat on journalist and walk free, 25 caps for Lone Star only one goal? Shame on you!!!!!!!!!!
