‘Unfinished business’ – Benik Afobe on joining Millwall, coping with a family tragedy and proving his backers right

Benik Afobe reckons he has “unfinished business” at Millwall – and is determined to pay back the faith of the people who have supported him.

The 28-year-old striker signed on a season-long loan from Stoke City at the end of last week.

His previous stay, while a youngster on Arsenal’s books, was cut short by a serious knee injury.

“I feel like I’ve got unfinished business,” Afobe told the South London Press. “I feel like the fans didn’t get the true me.

“It’s not about me coming here to prove people wrong. It’s about proving people right – the ones who believe in me. I’m doing it for them.

“I’ve got experience now. A lot of things have happened to me, on and off the field, and I’m just hungry to go again.

“Scottie [Malone] is my mate – we have the same agent – and he was telling me how he came here and blossomed again. He started enjoying his football again after a difficult 18 months. I’m the same.

“My daughter passed away and I’ve had injuries…it’s been tough for me.

“People outside of football don’t see all that stuff. I was near enough depressed, like you would be. But all of that has made me hungrier to show I’m still one of the best strikers in the league.”

Afobe’s daughter Amora was two when she passed away after developing a severe infection.

Asked how he had coped with adversity in his life, the forward replied: “God. I’m a strong believer. I’m a Christian. And it’s about having good people around you – staying as strong as possible.

“Don’t get me wrong, I cry every week thinking about what happened – my injuries and my daughter passing away. It has been tough for my family and myself. Very, very tough – I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

“But at the same time, I’ve got other children and a family I’m supporting – younger siblings and stuff. I’ve got to be a role model. And as much as it sounds horrible, life does move on. If you stand still, you’re going to be struggling.

“I feel like you have to do the best for the people who are around. You can’t just go into a shell and leave it at that.

“I’m still only 28 and I need to do well for my family – this is my job. If I’m just at home crying and not working hard then my kids will be struggling. I need to do well for them – that’s my motivation.”

Afobe spent last season on loan with Trabzonspor, where he won the Turkish Super Cup. He feels his scoring stats don’t paint a true picture.

“If anyone does their research on me, I probably had 10 chances and scored five of them,” said Afobe.

“Last season it says I played 28 games – but if you add up all my minutes then I played the equivalent of 11 full matches and scored five goals, in a team that used to win 1-0 and 2-0. We weren’t a prolific side.

“So I was prolific last season as well. If you go and look at the minutes, I was often only coming on for four or five minutes.

“I’ve had two career-threatening injuries and been on the bench a lot of times. When you come on for 10 minutes and you haven’t had a run of games in you, then people judge ‘oh, he didn’t score here and there’.

“But you have to look at the minutes. Even at Bournemouth in the Premier League, I think I scored six goals in 31 games – but I had 13 starts.

“I feel I’m still prolific and when I get chances I tend to score them. I’m not trying to big myself up too much, but at the same time I believe in myself. I believe I’m still the player I once was.”

Afobe is smiling and happy in all of the club’s images from pre-season training. He is back working with a manager, Gary Rowett, who took him to Stoke for a reputed fee of £12.5million.

The frontman is confident a run of matches – with significant game time – will pay dividends.

“Without that it is hard to get any rhythm,” said Afobe.

“It’s not just about scoring goals – it’s about playing well and fitness. I’m not saying I’m going to be starting every game here, because I still need to work hard and prove myself in training, but you’re starting from a great base when your manager, staff and team-mates believe in you.

“That’s the aim – to get as many games and goals as I can. I do believe this team has the quality to sneak into the play-offs, for sure.

“I wouldn’t have come here if I didn’t think the team was any good and we didn’t have a chance of making the play-offs. I definitely haven’t come here for an easy ride. I’ve come here to go again. I’ve got experience at this level now.

“I need a team that complements me. The lads we’ve got in, and the lads here last season, are going to help me blossom again – and I think I’m going to help them with the way I play.

“I love it when the fans are behind me, and the team. A lot of people say things about Millwall fans but the first time I was here I loved them. They were unbelievable to me.

“I feel this is the right fit for me and I’m the right fit for them as well.”