Striker loving life with the Dons
Bayo Akinfenwa says he would love to end his career by helping AFC Wimbledon progress as a club in the coming years.
a run of fixtures that came in just 15 days. Bayo turns 33 in May, but he says the training regime coordinated by Neal Ardley has left him feeling fitter than ever after playing every single minute of Wimbledon’s last five games -
Despite failing to score in seven games, Bayo (pictured above congratulating Sean Rigg after his equaliser at Milton Keynes) has struck 13 goals in all competitions this season and his current barren run does not concern him.
Speaking during an interview for Dons Player ahead of the League 2 match at Exeter, Bayo said: “I am not trying to go for quote of the year or anything, but if I don’t score for the rest of this season and we get promoted I will take that! As long as I am contributing to the team and being effective I will be happy with that. I am confident and I cannot see me going 11 more games without scoring. I have not scored for a while, but the main thing is the team.
“I always set a goals target and I am only two off what I set before the season started. You want to be successful at every club you play for and my first season at AFC Wimbledon has exceeded expectations. I have scored a couple of memorable goals and the fans have taken to me. They have shown me nothing but love.
“There is a project here that the manager and everyone affiliated with the club has started. If I could finish my career with promotion at this club it would be a very good thing. I am overly happy with the fans, players and the management here. I have no plans to go anywhere else. I am feeling fit and scoring goals, apart from the last seven games.”
The Dons face a tough test at Exeter tomorrow, but Bayo says he goes into it feeling the benefit of the management team’s approach towards his fitness requirements.
“I have played 90 minutes in every one of the last five games,” added Bayo. “I look and feel fitter and I am stronger. The fitness training that Jason Moriarty puts in place has played a massive part and the time off that the manager gives you is also working. We are reaping the benefits and we are just six points behind the play-off zone.
“The players are not focusing on the away record. We know what we can do when we get it right. We despatched Exeter at home earlier this season and we need to forget we are away. We just need to focus on implementing our game plan to the best of our abilities. The manager has told us that we did not do well at Exeter last season. We are preparing meticulously for this game and we will go there with immense confidence.”
The full five-minute interview with Bayo Akinfenwa featured on Dons Player earlier today.