Hearts midfielder Larry Kingston has hit back at suggestions that his trip to Ghana this week was further evidence of him not taking his role at the club seriously, citing that he needed to return to his homeland for the sake of his family.
Kingston has been under fire from the fans and more recently his manager over a perceived lack of effort for the Hearts cause. Much of this has not been without good reason too, as his many lacklustre performances for the club this season will back up.
However on this occasion Kingston clearly felt the need to go public over what he insists are the real reasons for his return to Ghana:
‘Some people in Ghana think when we foreign-based players say we are injured it might not be true so I wanted to prove it to them’ he said.
‘Some fans of the national team who are also very passionate could physically attack me or my family over this – that’s why I’m here to prove to everyone I am injured.
‘Last month when I was invited for the friendly against South Africa I pleaded with the Ghana FA to leave me out because I would have returned on a Friday when my club had a game on the Saturday.
‘As the Ghana coach agreed to my request, when I continue missing matches without giving any proof some might think I am being a truant.
‘There is also a new national team coach for Ghana and if I don’t make any effort for him to see he might also have a different view of me.
‘I’m not in Accra to play in the game but I’m here to prove to my country’s FA I was not lying when I said I was injured.
‘I am very sad this has come out as if I have defied the club and the coach I respect so much to be here. I will be on the plane tonight even before the game starts.
‘I had very good intentions for the good of my club and it is the reason why I came. I want to make it clear I will not do anything tomar the good relationship I have with Mr Laszlo and the fans.
‘I will call him soon and have a chat.
‘As he has coached in Africa I hope he will sympathise with me.’
Well, given Csaba’s public reaction so far, it would appear not. It’s very difficult to comment on whether or not this is just a convenient excuse for Larry, but it will be interesting to see what happens after his next conversation with the manager.
As for the current status of Kingston’s injury, the player continued:
‘I thought I would be back quickly when I sustained the injury but it has taken a while.
‘I was able to run last week but there is still a bit of pain. I’m just hoping I can start hitting the ball and get back in two weeks.
The question is Larry, even if you can start doing that in a fortnight’s time, will Csaba even be interested?
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That was basically the story on the Hearts website – that he had returned home at the request of the Ghana FA to check his “doctor’s line”. Fair enough – that may well be the real reason. An you can see how Kingston feels under suspicion by both club and country. However it seems that Csaba didn’t see it that way, based on his reported comments yesterday. Only one way for Mr Kingston to win over the Hearts fans – if he still cares – and that is to turn it on in his next game !!
Well there might be some truth in what he says in so far that there seem to be a lot of pressure on the African players from their home nations, but the whole things feels confusing. I am not sure how Csaba has been quoted (it wouldn?t be the first time the papers stretched the truth somewhat), we?ll have to wait and see until Kingston comes back. What I don?t understand and this might lie in the heart of this whole affair, is why Kingston left the country without speaking to Csaba. Independent if he is injured and need to prove it, Csaba is the boss and Larrya seems to be lacking in COMUNICATION and RESPECT. You don?t go on leave without speaking to your boss whatever the reason and this might be why Csaba is so *****ed off. Now I have to say MrH that I don?t think Kingston has played his best this season (possible a bout of lazyatas) but I do think he gets a harder time (perhaps recently for more just reasons) than for instance Stewart who also has been up and down this season and whos recent behaviour has seen him abandon the team against Rangers due to another red card. I haven?t heard anyone asking for Stewart to be sold on….
… you have now, ScandiJambo !! I’d be happy to see Stewart sold on … but I doubt we’d get much money for him. He runs about a lot – but his touch, passing and shooting are poor. Regarding Mr H’s previous article about players who got a “raw deal” from the press or fans, Stewart seems to be the opposite – a guy who actually gets a better press than he deserves.
Yes, the main feature of all this that beggars belief is that this exchange did not, it would seem, occur face to face before Kingston left for Ghana but rather in the press after the event. As regards the comparison between Kingston and Stewart, we are I think looking at almost 2 opposite situations here: all the ability but almost no effort or commitment versus plenty of effort but from time to time devoid of even the most basic of skills. Both will disappoint and frustrate the fans but understandably it is Kingston?s lacklustre approach (in effect a lack of respect for the club) that will ***** them off the most.
Would disagree there slightly imcd – I think Stewart has plenty of ability but it’s other factors that can negatively affect him. Also to say that Stewart gets an easy ride is not entirely accurate – he’s the first player that many of the fans I sit near will turn on, and as for the press he’s had, I read an article last week after his red card at Paisley slagging him off for his ‘show of disrespect’ to Phil O’Donnell when he was similarly sent off at Tannadice earlier in the year, so……
I actually think Stewart is a good player, but as I said before I think he has a chip on his shoulder that might stem back to his Man United days where he never really made it i.e., turn out to be the angry or ?I can?t be bothered? boy, when things don?t go his (or Hearts) way. I found this as annoying as Kingston?s abilities that seems to be just short of brilliant, but often ends up sloppy or uninspired. It is interesting that the like of Miko and Nade in particular seem to have stepped up their game, but Kingston and Stewart are not to the same extent. This could be down to age and ?I?m already as good as I can get? attitude and that is annoying to say the least. Saying that (here comes my fickle side again) I would love to see Stewart, Kingston and Aguiar in midfield again, as I enjoyed the midfield domination against Hibs…