Anthony Snoti Laffor continues to write his name in the history books of Liberian and South African football with his continuous success in his football career. The South African based Liberian forward added another trophy to his cabinet over the weekend after his club, the Mamelodi Sundowns, won the 2017-18 South African ABSA Premiership.
The Sundowns were crowned champions of South Africa’s premier club competition over the weekend after a 3-1 win over Ajax Cape Town at the Luca Masterpieces Moripe Stadium on Saturday, April 28. The Brazilians won the title with a game to end the league season.
A struggling Ajax Cape Town scared the Sundowns during the early period of the match with an early goal. Coming into the game sitting in relegation zone, Ajax Cape Town needed the three points to escape the relegation spot, while the Sundowns were out for the three points to end the Orlando Pirates’ hopes of winning the league.
Cape Town got the match off to a flying start with an early lead. South African defender Mosa Lebusa gave Ajax Cape Town the lead two minutes in the match to dim the Sundowns’ title hopes. However, the Sundowns quickly responded by leveling the score in the 12th minute.
Zimbabwean midfielder Khama Billiat got the score leveled through Percy Tau’s assist to restore the Sundowns’ hopes. The Sundowns later extended their lead in the 28th minute from the penalty spot. Brazilian defender Ricardo dos Santos do Nascimento doubled the lead for the Sundowns to make matters worse for struggling Ajax Cape Town.
A 2-1 score wasn’t satisfactory to the Sundowns, who were continuing their push for more goals. The Brazilians ensured that they went to the break with a two-goal lead in the 35th minute when they registered their third goal of the match.
Soweto-born attacker Sibusiso Vilakazi got the Sundowns’ third goal to make the score 3-1. That lead was perfect for an eighth league title. Visitors Ajax Cape Town were unable to register another goal in the remaining 10 minutes of the first half as they were forced to go to the break 3-1.
The Sundowns were already heading for their eighth league title with the 3-1 lead and the pressure fell on Ajax Cape Town that needed to escape defeat to keep their ABSA Premiership survival hopes awake. They returned from the break bit stronger than the first half but were unable to score against a relaxed Sundowns team that played a one-touch ball to keep the ball away from their opponents until the end of the match.
Laffor, who hasn’t gotten much playing time this season, was introduced in the 88th minute. The Liberian forward was brought on for Khama Billiat, who scored the Sundowns’ first goal to level against Ajax Cape Town. Laffor has made just 10 appearances and one goal out for the 29 league games played this season.
At the end of the match, it was the Sundowns that earned the three points to clinch the league title. They are at the top of the Premiership table with 59 points from 29 games, seven points more than second place Orlando Pirates, who have 52 points.
The title became Laffor’s fifth in his 13-year professional soccer career in South Africa. He won two ABSA Premiership titles with SuperSports United before winning an additional three with his current employers, the Mamelodi Sundowns.
Featured photo by T. Kla Wesley, Jr.
