Akpom Dreams Greek League Title With PAOK Salonika

Chuba Akpom, a Nigerian striker of descent admits it will be an amazing feat for him should PAOK Salonika clinch the Greek title in his first season at the club.

PAOK Salonika last won the Greek title 34 years ago but the 23-year-old striker believes the club are on the right path to winning their third league title in history.

“When you start to play, ­everything opens up and starts getting better,” Akpom told British Tabloid, The Mirror.

“In my first season that would be amazing, crazy. I’m just trying to be a part of history.”

“We are on the right track and, if we can win it, that will be ­massive. Not just for PAOK, but for Thessaloniki, the whole city.”

“Olympiakos was the biggest game so far in my career. Over here, it’s more than football.”

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“It’s like a religion and it was the first time I felt the emotion going into the game.”

“The fans had been waiting for this game for years. Finally, PAOK are above Olympiakos. It was amazing to score and make everyone happy. I went into town to eat and everywhere I went ­people were stopping me to say thank you. I gave them a lot of happiness and they were crying.”

Akpom, who made only four senior appearances for Arsenal and was sent on loan to Brentford, Coventry, Forest, Hull, Brighton, and Belgian club Sint-Truiden, also explains his decision to move to Greece.

“When I moved to Greece, people were asking why. I feel like I’m finally justifying the move, finally showing people why I came here,” he said.

“It’s nuts. A lot of pressure. But you can do one of two things – hide or rise to it and use it as motivation.

“I think ‘wow, there are 30,000 people watching me do what I do best.’ It’s the perfect stage to enjoy.

“The first time I came to the stadium I heard a ­firework go off in the crowd and jumped! I was not used to that in England.”

“I’ve been in the same situation twice when we were close to getting to the play-offs or promotion at Hull and Brighton, so I know how it feels.

“You’ve got to keep doing what you’ve been doing all season and the games will just fly. And before you know it, it’s done.”

Akpom has scored five league goals in 12 League appearances for PAOK Salonika who are currently six points clear of nearest challengers Olympiakos with 10 games left to play.

PAOK could extend the lead to nine points with a win over Apollon Smyrni in Monday’s (today’s) league fixture.