Ex-Starlets star Toku poised to shine in Europe
Former Ghanaian youth star Emmanuel Toku, has said, he would continue to work hard to become one of the best players in Europe.
According to Toku, who recently completed a move to Belgian Jupiler Pro League side OH Leuven, he was gradually moving to the next level of his career and determined to climb his professional ladder to the highest level.
“I am glad to move to the Belgian League which is one of the best in Europe and get the chance to move to the next level of my career, and possibly become one of the best players in Europe,” he said in a telephone conversation with the media.
“I want to fight and maintain a good performance to help my team to play in the Champions League,” he stressed.
The 22-year-old said, Argentina star Lionel Messi was his role model and would work hard to get to his level in future.
The former teammate of Mohammed Kudus at the youth level said, he was excited seeing some of his colleagues play in the Black Stars and was encouraged to do well so as to receive a call-up into the senior national team as well.
“We are working hard and hopefully at the right time, we would also get our chance,” he added.
He advised younger players to be focused, hardworking and disciplined to get to higher heights and raise Ghana football to an appreciable level.
Toku started playing football with Ghanaian division two side, Cheetah FC. In 2019, he was transferred to the Danish club Fremad Amager, where he played 39 games, scored 12 goals and provided six assists.
In 2021, he switched to Botev Plovdiv in Bulgaria, where he featured 70 times in the Bulgarian Parva Liga and scored eight goals and six assists to his credit.
At youth level, he featured for the Ghanaian U-17 team, the Black Starlets and was part of the team that finished second at the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in 2017, and later also reached the round of 16 stage of the FIFA Under17 World Cup in the same year in India.
BY MICHAEL D. ABAYATEYE
