Taiwo Awoniyi’s close family ties played a big role in the Nottingham Forest striker rediscoring his top form and mental strength after a tough start and a period of injury-induced layoff in what later turned out to be a memorable first season in the Premier League, Completesports.com reports.
Speaking exclusively to Completesports.com’s UK Correspondent in London, Taiwo’s younger brother, Victor Awoniyi, spoke of how having family around helped the Super Eagles’ forward become Forest’s hero of the season after a slow start to his Premier League career.
“At a point Taiwo was not finding it funny at Forest, being in and out of the starting lineup. This affected him and he began to doubt himself,” Victor Awoniyi started in an exclusive interview with Completesports.com.
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“As a family, we kept praying for him, and I also pointed out to him that he was born to score goals and has done it everywhere he goes and that if he could score loads of goals in the Bundesliga then he can do so too in the Premier League.
“I told him never to forget who he was – a lion. He could not afford to lose confidence. I also reminded him that he is a child of God and so he is more than a conqueror. And he regained his confidence and belief and the goals rained.”
Taiwo Awoniyi’s resurgent form and goals were part of the reasons Nottingham Forest survived relegation with a game to spare in the Premier League.
The 25-year-old notched up 10 goals and one assist in 27 games, including six goals in the Tricky Trees’ last four games. He also scored one in three EFL Cup matches for Steve Cooper’s team.
By Johnny Ogbah in London
