2NNCYT9 London Stadium, London, UK. 25th Feb, 2023. Premier League Football, West Ham United versus Nottingham Forest; Michail Antonio of West Ham United celebrates with team mates after he scores for 4-0 in the 85th minute Credit: Action Plus Sports/Alamy Live News
Armstrong Okoflex tells it exactly how it is after West Ham let him go this summer
Armstrong Okoflex has a chip on his shoulder after being released by West Ham United.
After leaving West Ham this summer, Armstrong Okoflex spoke to The Athletic about what the future holds for him.
West Ham signed the 21-year-old from Celtic in the summer of 2021, and he arrived at the London Stadium with a big reputation as a supremely talented young player.
He showed his quality during his debut campaign with the Hammers under-21s, and actually looked pretty good when playing with the senior side during pre-season as well.
However, he was never given a chance at the top level competitively by David Moyes, and now he’s looking to make an impression elsewhere…
Armstrong Okoflex tells it exactly how it is after West Ham let him go this summer
The 21-year-old Dublin-born forward sat down for an interview with The Athletic after his exit from the Hammers.
And Okoflex said that when he returned back to the club from his loan spell with Swansea, he felt unwanted:
“It was a weird feeling when I went back, it almost felt like West Ham didn’t want me to be there and it hurt me a bit. I just wanted to replicate what I did in my first season. When I came back, they had other players they were focusing on. I understood it, but it was just a weird experience. It reached a point where I wasn’t even playing for the under-23s. I just kept thinking, ‘What’s going on? I’ve just come back from loan and they don’t really want me to be here. Plus, I can’t go out on loan again. It was frustrating’.”
Okoflex then highlighted how he has the bit between his teeth now to prove everyone at West Ham wrong:
“When I was told I was being released, I saw it coming with the way they were treating me. It wasn’t ideal with them telling me so late. If they told me months in advance, I would have had loads of time to prepare to look for a new club. I don’t use social media that much, but my close friends sent me screenshots of fans wishing me well for the future. That means a lot to me and it was good to know the fans still care about me. Right now, my mindset is that I have a point to prove. I have a chip on my shoulder again.”
It’s a shame that things never worked out for Armstrong Okoflex at West Ham.
There is certainly a very good player in there somewhere.
And I’m sure that everyone will join me in wishing the 21-year-old the very best of luck for his future.
