Whispers

Leroy: ‘African Cup decision was Diafra’s alone’

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leroylogoI am absolutely convinced that had Diafra Sakho considered himself fit enough to join the Senegal squad for the African Nations Cup tournament he would have done so.

And let’s get this straight. At the end of it all this will have been the player’s decision not West Ham’s. Of course they wouldn’t have wanted him to go but Diafra undoubtedly will have had the final say.

No doubt the Hammers are very happy that they have him available and perhaps they attempted to persuade him to stay but I repeat, it was down to him.

For him to be getting stick from some daft fans for not being with the international squad is unfair and wrong.

He looks to me like a lad who leads his life the way he plays his football – with great honesty – and this was always going to be a no win situation for him.

He was obviously injured and I have no doubt the Hammers wanted to protect their prize asset as much as possible after what happened the last time he was on international duty.

But they couldn’t have stopped him if he was fit and wanted to go so o it’s pretty clear to me he wasn’t and let that be an end to it.

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Hugh Southon is a lifelong Iron and the founding editor of ClaretandHugh. He is a national newspaper journalist of many years experience and was Bobby Moore's 'ghost' writer during the great man's lifetime. He describes ClaretandHugh as "the Hammers daily newspaper!"

Follow on Twitter @hughsouthon

3 comments

  • bubs says:

    The end came when they did not take a chance on him getting fit for the tournament , they could have put him in the squad and he would be on a plane today in time still to play,they chose not to put a medic on a plane to check him out and instead chose to take to the press and hound our club,then they chose caution and did not include him,let’s hope Kouyate does not get on the medics table before he returns .let that be a end to it.

  • conkerpot says:

    He shouldnt be playing for us until afcon over doesnt look great does it him scoring for us when he could be playing for his country and demba ba lost his place to sakho too imagine what he must think

  • Dainon17 says:

    I wonder if they refuse to pick him in future squads as a punishment ?? lets hope so lol

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