Ajax defender Perr Schuurs has admitted that Super Eagles striker Tolu Arokodare presented a rare challenge during NEC Nijmegen’s 1-1 draw with Ajax at the Johan Cruijff Arena on Saturday.
Schuurs said the Nigerian’s physical strength and preference for receiving the ball in the air made him a different kind of opponent from the strikers he had faced during his career in the Netherlands and Italy.
Speaking to De Telegraaf, as reported by Livescore, the Dutch centreback revealed that Arokodare exceeded his expectations once the match got under way.
“I had already expected a lot. But when the match started it was actually even more than I had thought beforehand,” Schuurs said.
The defender spent four years playing in the Eredivisie before moving to Italy’s Serie A with Torino, where he faced several physically imposing forwards, including Romelu Lukaku.
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However, Schuurs explained that Arokodare’s approach presented a different problem, particularly because of the Nigerian’s ability to compete for aerial balls and use his chest to bring the ball under control.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
The comparison with Lukaku highlights the distinctive challenge Arokodare poses to defenders.
While both forwards offer a strong physical presence, Schuurs believes the Nigerian’s preference for aerial service and controlling the ball with his chest gives him a different profile.
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His comments offer recognition of Arokodare’s qualities following NEC’s competitive draw against one of Dutch football’s most prominent clubs.
