“He’s a god” – Arokodare credits Genk coach for career turnaround

Nigerian and KRC Genk forward, Toluwalase Emmanuel Arokodare, has credited his club coach, Thorsten Fink, for the positive turnaround in his career, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 24-year-old, before joining the Belgian Pro League side in the 2023 winter transfer window, played for French side, Amiens SC, and prior to that, had a season-long loan spell with FC Koln.

During his time with the German side, the lanky striker featured in just eleven games for the Billy Goats, and fell out with the then coach, Markus Gisdol.

Reminiscing on his experience under the German manager, Arokodare recalls that it wasn’t pleasant as a young budding footballer at the time.

“I thought for a long time that no one in his head was stronger than me, until I moved to Germany. I only played eight games for FC Cologne: always as a substitute, never longer than 25 minutes. We were with three attackers, but even when the other two were injured, they preferred to put a midfielder or even the left-back [Jonas Hector] in the striker. My teammates laughed at me, the coach did not believe in me, and my self-confidence staggered.

“Then Corona came. I didn’t see my family for almost two years, playing video games all day. I put on my naughty shoes and got up to the coach. He was tired of explaining the same thing to me over and over again. That didn’t make sense: he never spoke to me! People often don’t know how to deal with African boys. We grew up in other circumstances, so you may have to explain to me ten times. Cultures often clash in football. Asian and South American players also experience it.

“When I came out of his desk, the tears were in my eyes. I was 19, I knew a lot about professional football. That you still have to go to the gym after training or have to finish an individual program on your day off,” the former Koln striker said in an interview with HUMO.

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After his loan spell in Germany, Arokodare moved to France, before joining KRC Genk eighteen months later where he gets to play under another German manager. However, this time, it turned out to be a step in the right direction.

Speaking about Thorsten Fink, the 197cm-tall striker shared his delight about his relationship with his club coach, revealing it extends beyond the football pitch.

“He is a god. My whole life, I’ve prayed that such a person would come my way. It’s like we were predestined for each other. His son recently attended a training. I told him, “What a great father you have!” The coach is such a beautiful person. I feel blessed with someone like him, though I was worried at first. “A German coach? No, not again!, because of my bad experiences in Germany, I went straight to security mode.

“To our first meeting, it changed everything. I asked him what he wanted from me, and what I needed to change. “Nothing,” he said, “I want you to play like this, be yourself!” I did not believe my ears. I suddenly had a coach who was 100% behind me from the first day. What more could you wish for?

“Anyone who doesn’t know him will never believe he is a German. Germans are very strict, on the military. He’s different. He’s different. He puts humanity first, before his job. That already distinguishes him from other coaches. He’s like a father you can talk to about anything. Even about video games, even though he hates them: at least he will listen. Even when I was asking about my relationship, I could contact him. He is too dear and I don’t want to disappoint him,” Arokodare concluded.

Arokodare has been the Nigerian with the most goals in Europe this season, scoring 14 goals and providing four assists in 23 games for Thorsten Fink’s side. He’s had a hand in 43% of their league goals this season and has led them to the top of the Belgian Pro League.

With his form, the former Amiens SC striker is hopeful for a call-up to the Nigerian senior team in the future, and dreams of sharing the dressing room with players like Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.