Ex-Torino star hails Arokodare’s qualities

Former Torino defender, Perr Schuurs, has admitted that Nigeria international, Tolu Arokodare, gave him a different kind of challenge after their clash in the Eredivisie.

Schuurs came up against Arokodare when Ajax played out a 1-1 draw with NEC Nijmegen at the Johan Cruijff ArenA last Saturday, with the Wolves loanee producing a powerful header that caught the attention of his opponent.

The 26-year-old defender, who spent four years in Dutch football before moving to Torino in Italy, said Arokodare exceeded his expectations once the game got underway.

“I had already expected a lot. But when the match started, it was actually even more than I had thought beforehand,” Schuurs was quoted as saying by Livescore.

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Schuurs has faced some formidable strikers during his career, including Romelu Lukaku in Italy, but believes the Belgian offers a different challenge from the Super Eagles forward.

“Honestly, no. I played in the Eredivisie for four years and I had never come up against a striker like that. And in Italy you do not often see this type either.

“People mention Lukaku, but he is still a different type of player. Tolu wants the ball on his chest or in the air more often,” he said.

Meanwhile, Arokodare, who has netted seven goals with two assists in 10 games since his arrival at Ajax, has revealed his dreams in the colours of the Dutch giants.

“We’re going to try to win everything that’s there to win, everything that we can win, every competition we’re playing in and participating in,” the former Genk striker told Footy-Africa.

He also explained what Ajax’s stature means for the expectations of the team, and the players individually.

“That’s the plan, that’s the aim, that’s the point of our season. We’re Ajax, so we always want to be the best, be number one.

“Every game we play and every competition we’re participating in, we’re trying to win it,” Arokodare added.

Recall that the 25-year-old joined the Amsterdam club on a season-long loan from Wolves in July, with Ajax retaining an option to make the move permanent.