Share
By: Abiodun Adewale
Nigerian forward and Genk’s leading top scorer, Tolu Arokodare, was again on target for the club as they began their Belgium First Division A Championship round with a 1-0 win over leaders Union Saint-Gilloise on Monday.
Arokodare found the back of the net in the 27th minute of the encounter and that was enough to secure a flying start for coach Wouter Vrancken’s side, with the Belgian tactician already talking tough about the title race.
Genk made it to the round with 47 points and as the sixth-placed team from the regular season they are quick to turn their focus to winning another title since their last triumph in the 2018/2019 season.
Vrancken praised Arokodare and his teammates for the good showing after the game.
“When you are playing in the first playoff match, you want to give everything. The boys showed that today, despite the many absences from our team, the energy was incredible and the faith was also very high. You can then tell what can be achieved,” the coach, who is hoping to lead the team to another league title, said.
“I expect everyone eligible to play to be ready. I don’t think there is any better time to show your qualities. I hope that the boys will make it as difficult as possible for me in terms of options in the coming weeks.”
The former Amiens and FC Koln striker, who joined the Belgian outfit January 2023, has now scored 12 goals and three assists in 42 games across all competitions for KRC Genk.
Eight of those goals were scored in 29 appearances during the regular First Division A season and he scored three more in the Champions League and UEFA Conference League qualifiers.
Their next game in the playoffs is a visit to champions Antwerp, who have two Nigerians, Chidera Ejuke and Alhassan Yusuf, in their ranks.