I want to give my daughter the best life possible and giving up one of my biggest demons was a good start
SAYS KYLE LAFFERTY
THIS has been a time in Kyle Lafferty’s life for reaching important targets. His hope is that another one will be hit inside the Estadio de la Ceramica this evening.
The Rangers striker will be pursuing a first goal in continental competition — on his 17th appearance — when he lines up against Villarreal in the opening match of Europa League Group G.
With Alfredo Morelos suspended following his dissent-driven red card in the final qualifier, Lafferty is expected to bear the burden of leading the line for Steven Gerrard’s side in this meeting with La Liga opposition.
The challenge may well be demanding, but it is one that he will embrace with optimism. Contentment in his personal life is providing a perfect background for his professional ambitions.
Earlier this month, Lafferty took to social media to reveal he had passed 365 days without placing a bet. For a self-confessed gambling addict, it was a landmark that brought a rightful sense of achievement.
Now a father to baby daughter Sienna, the family Lafferty has formed with wife Vanessa provides a loving support network in terms of keeping on the right path. So, too, do the regular meetings with Gamblers Anonymous that dispel any possibility of complacency.
Lafferty went public on his problem last season, expressing thanks for the backing he had received at Hearts. Twelve months on, he continued that courageous openness when assessing how far he has come.
‘I’d say I’m in a good place,’ considered Lafferty yesterday. ‘It has been just over a year now. Back then, when I was in the middle of things, I wouldn’t have taken a week off betting.
‘But I have done a year now. It is a long road. Going to the meetings, one of the guys has been there for 35 years. I was trying to figure out why he had been going for that length of time and he said that any minute he could easily flip and go back to it.
‘So it is going to be a long road for me. But I have my family and friends around me and I think that is the most important thing.
‘It always feels impressive to get to the year. But there is no point in reaching that landmark if I fall back into it next month. I just have to take it each day at a time and if I can make it to the second year then that will be another massive milestone for me.’
Speaking to Sportsmail earlier this week, Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill said he detected a fresh happiness and maturity about Lafferty since the striker became a dad.
‘I’ve got someone else’s life to look after now,’ said the £450,000 signing yesterday. ‘I want to give my daughter the best life possible and giving up one of my biggest demons is a good start. For the first two or three months, I would say I had to deal with the urges (to bet again). But my wife has been there 100 per cent along the way and so have my family. It has been good to have people to help.’
The circle is widened by the community of men and women determined to overcome the same addiction. Lafferty’s fame as a Rangers player is irrelevant when he enters that environment.
‘Some of the stories you hear at the meetings can be frightening,’ he admitted. ‘Some of them I can relate to and there are some where I just feel sorry for the people. But this is obviously where people go when they need help and everyone has been brilliant with me.
‘People don’t speak to me about football there. They have taken me in from day one and treated me like one of them. I’m just treated like a normal guy.’
Returning to Ibrox has provided an additional source of well-being. A boyhood Rangers fan, Lafferty had to be patient as negotiations continued over several weeks. Completing the move, he insisted at the time, provided a chance to right the wrongs of his controversial exit amid the financial meltdown of 2012.
His debut for the club first time around actually came as late substitute in a Champions League qualifier defeat to Kaunas in 2008. Far better times followed under Walter Smith, with Lafferty scoring in three successive title-clinching games, but a goal in UEFA competition remained elusive.
To be fair, many of his previous appearances — including his two against Russian outfit Ufa last month — came via the bench. Even so, all mentions of the blank stat yesterday provoked a grinning quip that he would rather go back to speaking about gambling.
‘Yeah, I’ve never scored in European football so tomorrow night would be a good start,’ he added. ‘I’ve played in Turkey (for Rizespor) and Italy (for Palermo) and scored. It suited me, the way I played. So hopefully if I get a chance tomorrow I’ll put it away.
‘Alfredo is going to be a massive miss for us, but it gives me an opportunity to go out and show the gaffer what I am capable of. That is the aim. I am gutted that Alfredo is not involved but it is just one of those things.’
Lafferty was involved when Rangers last played group-stage football in the 2010-11 Champions League. The significance of tonight’s return to such an arena is felt by all connected with the Ibrox club.
‘These are the kind of games I was looking forward to when I came back to Rangers,’ he insisted ‘The club has been away from European football for a long time. For a club of Rangers’ size it has been too long.
‘I think we are good enough to be in this competition. We showed that in the qualifying process.
‘It will be hard, we know that. Villarreal are a good team. But we feel we are a good team as well and that we have players in our team who can cause them problems. So it is a game that we are looking forward to.’