Super Eagles hopeful, Tolu Arokodare has been making headlines in Belgium with an impressive season tally of eight goals and three assists in just 13 appearances for KRC Genk.
Yet, over the summer, the 23-year-old Nigerian striker nearly made a move to Turkish club Trabzonspor due to what he described as a lack of “positive energy” around him at Genk.
The Lagos-born forward felt undervalued and had become tempted by the financial benefits of a move to Turkey.
“Why? Because there was no more positive energy around me,” Arokodare told Het Laatste Nieuws.
“I felt like I couldn’t do anything right anymore.” He further explained that despite his productivity on the field, some analysts and fans favored his teammate, South Korean striker Oh Hyeon-gyu, over him for Genk's starting lineup.
Fink’s words of confidence on Arokodare
Despite the allure of a lucrative move, it was Genk coach Thorsten Fink who convinced Arokodare to stay.
“Fink reassured me completely,” Arokodare said. “‘Stay with me for one year, and you’ll be in the Premier League,’ he told me. Something like that gives you a lot of confidence.” This faith from Fink has paid dividends as Arokodare has emerged as a pivotal figure for Genk this season, silencing doubters with his on-field impact.
Arokodare’s fine form, however, hasn’t yet earned him a call-up to the Super Eagles squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, leaving fans questioning interim manager Austin Eguavoen's omission.
Despite proving his worth at Genk, Arokodare remains focused on his season in Belgium, with Fink’s Premier League aspirations for him serving as an extra motivation.
