SOLIHULL Moors striker Akwasi Asante believes the team must do everything they can to stay in the National League and ensure all the hard work of last season’s title-winning campaign does not go to waste, writes Luke Turner.
Moors currently sit 16th in the National League, six points above the relegation zone, and Asante is pleased with the progress the team have made in the 2016/17 season.
He said: “I think we’ve started really well and we’ve won against teams in and around us. We went on a run where we lost four games on the bounce so we had to change it slightly, but I think that was a bit of a reality check.
“If you’d said at the start of the season that we’d be where we are now we would’ve definitely taken it.”
Asante, 24, has been a pivotal figure for the club – scoring 28 league goals since his arrival in 2015 – and, although his start to the season has been positive, he is still keen to improve.
He added: “I’ve scored 11 goals in the league and haven’t played every game so, from my point of view, I think I’m doing really well.
“I can always do better and there are other aspects of my game that I need to improve on. It’s not all about goals.”
The ex-Birmingham City striker also highlights the importance of making sure last season’s historic campaign is made worthwhile.
He said: “Last season we worked so hard to get where we are now and we’ve got to do everything we can to make sure that it doesn’t go to waste because we want to stay here.
“That’s our main target this season – to make sure we stay in this league.”
The club have also impressed in the FA Cup this season, knocking out League Two Yeovil Town on their way to the second round, which unfortunately ended in defeat at Luton Town, which Asante sees as a bittersweet moment.
He said: “It’s the furthest the club has ever got (in the FA Cup) in its history, so it’s a big achievement for us. It was disappointing to be 2-0 up and then lose 6-2 but that’s what happens when you come up against a bigger team.
“If you’re not fully focused then they can turn you over and they (Luton) showed us that.”
Asante has struggled with injuries in recent years but believes his career is finally heading in the right direction and is pleased with his progression at Solihull Moors.
“Since I’ve been here I think everything has gone the way I wanted it to go. I joined Solihull because I had a good feeling about us going into that season and was really positive about us getting to the National League.
“I looked at the squad and thought that this was the right place.”
