Mokoena makes Genk switch
Friday, July 4, 2003
Article summary
KRC Genk have signed South African international central defender Aaron Mokoena from AFC Ajax.
Article body
KRC Genk have signed Aaron Mokoena from AFC Ajax on a three-year contract.
Loan experience
The 22-year-old South African central defender moved to Europe in 1998/99, joining 1.Bundesliga side Bayer 04 Leverkusen. However, he failed to make a first-team appearance for the German side and moved to the Netherlands, spending two seasons with Ajax's youth sides before moving to KFC Germinal Beerschot Antwerpen on loan in 2001/02. He also spent last season with the Antwerp side, becoming club captain.
'I am ready for a step forward'
"Genk really attracted me from the outset," Mokoena said. "I played a strong season at Germinal Beerschot, and I am ready for a step forward in my career. Germinal Beerschot is a nice club, but it would not be the right thing for me to stay there; I want to start a new life. To improve myself, I have to play and train against the top players now, and compete for European places every year. At Genk I will get that opportunity."
