Djurgarden will miss Kingsley Sarfo in his first APOEL playoff.
The midfielder was deported from Sweden after being convicted of rape five years ago.
– He’s played all the matches, so it’s not positive for them in any way, says coach Thomas Lagerlöf.
Kingsley Sarfo was fired from Malmö FF in June 2018 after being sentenced to two years and eight months in prison for child rape.
The penalty was also deportation from Sweden for ten years. This means the midfielder was unable to travel with the rest of Apoel’s squad for the playoff match with Djurgården on Tuesday.
Assistant coach Makis Sergidis says it’s a big break that Kingsley can’t attend, but there are others who could take his place.
Do you have good alternatives?
Sarfo, who has played 90 minutes in APOEL’s last three games, had Kim Bergstrand and Thomas Lagerlöf as coach at Sirius before he went to MFF.
Lagerlöf said at a press conference last week: – There is no difference in facing the others, you know a little more about a player on the opposing team in this case.
How big was the break for them because he didn’t attend the first meeting?
– They have good alternatives, but since he’s played all the other matches, it’s not positive for them anyway.
If Djurgården makes it to the group stage Europa Conference League A million real rain awaits. The progress itself is worth just over SEK 30 million in prize money. The Cypriot team, who won four qualifying matches without conceding a goal, is preparing for a tough match.
– We have thoroughly analyzed Djurgården and he is a very good team. It’s no secret that there are good players like Ericsson and Asoro, but it’s a very good team, says Sergidis.
Here you can watch matches live on Sportbladet:
Wednesday 17 August 18:45: Djurgarden Apoel
Thursday, August 18, 7 p.m.: Slovácko – AIK
Tuesday, August 23 at 18:00: APOEL Djurgarden
Thursday, August 25 at 7:00 p.m.: AIK-Slovácko