MONROVIA, Montserrado – South African-based winger Anthony Snoti Laffor will not be part of the team traveling to Zimbabwe to participate in Lone Star’s opening qualifying fixture against the Warriors due to an injury he picked up at the club level.

The speedy winger was named in the provisional list of 14 foreign-based players invited for the crunch encounter but has informed the technical staff that he will not be part of the battle.

The 32-year-old scored once to help his Mamelodi Sundowns win 3-1 away against the Congolese AS Vita Club before picking up a hamstring injury that forced him off the pitch in the 76^th minute.

Laffor, who has been ruled out for one month, is set to miss the Sundowns’ weekend home champions league match against Esperance Sportiv de Tunis of Tunisia and the Lone Star’s match against Zimbabwe.

Asked if he could sacrifice and play on the injured leg like he did when the Lone Star played away at Senegal in 2012, Laffor said he can’t risk his leg, but suggested that the technical staff needed to find a quick replacement for his position to strengthen the team.

“They asked me if I can be with the team in Zimbabwe, and I told them no. I don’t think it is all about the money. If it was about the money, I would have gone and get paid without playing a single minute,” Laffor said. “For the love of the game and country, they need to call [another player] in my position and give him the opportunity to be a part.”

The former SuperSports striker further said he’s sad over missing the match but is sending out his prayers for the team to have a positive result away from home.

“It’s sad because playing for my country is something I always want to do. And now, there’s nothing I can do because I’m injured. I will be out for three to four weeks and I pray that we win our first game against Zimbabwe,” he told The Bush Chicken.

Already, Liberia’s preparation has been hit with a major controversy over the list of foreign-based players invited after head coach James Debbah stated he’s not aware of the 14 players list officially released by the Liberia Football Association.

The absence of Laffor might have created some loss to the team as he’s based in South Africa and understands a bit about the Zimbabwean style of play. His presence on the pitch could have put the Southern African nation’s defense under some pressure.

Featured photo by T. Kla Wesley, Jr.