Portland Timbers Defender Arokoyo: I Did Not Feel Safe In Turkey

Published: January 30, 2017

Nigeria international Gbenga Arokoyo has explained that he had to tear up his contract with Turkish Süper Lig club
Gaziantepspor because he didn’t feel safe in Turkey.

The central defender arrived in Gaziantepspor in 2014 and started feeling nervous due to the civil war in Syria, a chilling wave of terrorist attacks and random bomb blasts.

“I enjoyed every moment in Turkey until I didn’t feel safe anymore, ” Arokoyo told oregonlive.com.

“When I got the offer to come here, I didn’t think twice because I believe this is a team that has a goal, that has a passion to be successful.

“I saw it as a good opportunity to come to another country, to come to the U.S. and show what I can do best. ”

Last season, the Kwara Football Academy product managed only one appearance for the Timbers due to injury but is expected to be a regular in the team in 2017.

Igho Kingsley