Lincoln City youngster Zane Okoro has revealed his delight after scoring his first goal for the club on his first start.
The 17-year-old is the latest academy graduate to come through the ranks at the LNER Stadium. He made his first team debut as a late substitute in the FA Cup win over Chesham United earlier this month, playing a role in the Imps fourth goal.
Head coach Michael Skubala decided to hand Okoro his first start last night when his side hosted Manchester City under-21s in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy. Both sides knew that a win would take them into the knockout stages, but the League One outfit showed their quality with an emphatic 5-0 win.
Okoro Shines Brightest On Emphatic Night
With five different scorers, it was the teenager that shined the brightest. He was a constant threat from the left-hand side, eventually netting in superb fashion in the 60th minute with a smart finish from the edge of the box.
As the game reached its closing stages, it was no surprise to hear Okoro announced as Player of the Match on the tannoy. Afterwards, the attacker reacted to his performance:
“I’ve just been taking it step-by-step and grasping every opportunity that I get,” he told official club media. “It’s surreal but it’s also about trying to push on and keep moving forward and improving.
“The goal was one of my better finishes, definitely one of the more memorable ones that I’ll look back on in years to come.”
The Lincoln lineup boasted a host of academy graduates, including Oisin Gallagher, Freddie Draper and Jovon Makama. Okoro was quick to praise the pathway at Sincil Bank:
“This club has a really good pathway for younger players especially with guys like Oisin and Jovon, Sean (Roughan) has come through as well.
“That sets a really good example for the younger lads like myself and the others younger than me.”
Writer’s View
It’s a really exciting time for Lincoln. They have never really been a club that has produced via its academy so to see so many players coming through is a testament to the work they have put in behind the scenes in recent years. It’s these players that can provide a valuable platform for clubs at this level, whether that be on the pitch or via sales. Peterborough United have been an excellent example of this. If the Imps can keep on excelling in this department, it could be the beginning of an exciting era at the LNER Stadium.
Head of Writing
