JAPANESE STAR HAILS LATAPY
Scotland’s Professional Footballers Association “ Player of the Year” for 2006/2007 Shunsuke Nakamura paid tribute to former national captain Russell Latapy by disclosing on Monday that he had actually voted for the Falkirk player as his choice for the season’s top accolade.
Nakamura, a hero for Celtic by scoring their goal which copped the League title for them this month, confessed that he felt Latapy was the perfect pick for the award. Latapy though, despite earning several rave reviews this season, was edged out on making the “Team of the Year” by club teammate Alan Gow who is likely to head to Glasgow Rangers for next season.
Latapy was actually though rated highly by the Falkirk Herald this week as they described his presence along with striker Anthony Stokes, now at Sunderland , as one of the major reasons for the club’s happiness this season. “ Falkirk have played some of the best football of any team this season, and this pair are a prime reason why. Stokes scored successive hat-tricks against Dundee United and Dunfermline , but left in January. Latapy pulled the strings in midfield and was the inspiration for Falkirk 's first win over Rangers in the league for 35 years,” the paper stated. Latapy meantime is expected to sign a new deal to remain at least another season in the Scottish top flight. (April 27, 2007)
