Sparks fly at Downs

Anthony Laffor used yesterday's Telkom Knockout semifinal draw to hit back at a team-mate he has labelled "unprofessional".

The Liberian international rebutted the assertion of Sundowns veteran Esrom Nyandoro that the club's current squad was "immature".

Speaking after Sundowns were drawn to face Tshwane rivals Supersport United in the knockout semifinals next weekend, Laffor said he did not know why Nyandoro had made the remark.

"I think we are all senior players and we are all mature," Laffor said. "I don't want to get into it, but I don't think it was professional of him to say that."

Nyandoro said that, though Sundowns had better players now than in the past, when the club dominated the Premier League, the club had been struggling.

The Brazilians have had only three wins in 13 league and cup matches this season and are third from the bottom on the Premier League table.

Nyandoro said: "It is unfortunate that we still have quite a young team, not like before when we had youngsters but somehow they were mature enough."

Yesterday Laffor promised to prove Nyandoro wrong, saying sparks would fly when Supersport United hosted Sundowns on November 18 in a Telkom Knockout match likely to be played at the Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane. In the other semifinal clash, Bloemfontein Celtic coach Clinton Larsen did not get the home draw he wanted against derby rivals Free State Stars.

The PSL cup committee will make an announcement about venues this week. Stars are expected to take the match to Charles Mopeli stadium.