Super Eagles Star Paul Onuachu Makes History With Belgian Award

Genk forward Paul Onuachu has made history by becoming the first Nigerian player to win the Belgian Golden Shoe.

Onuachu was awarded the Belgian golden shoe in a ceremony on Wednesday night which recognised the Super Eagles star’s performances for Genk in the 2020-21 season.

The 27-year-old was rewarded for being Belgium First Division A top scorer last season with 33 goals in 38 matches.

The Genk forward saw off competition from Club Brugge duo Noa Lang and Charles Des Ketelaere to win the award.

Onuachu is the first Nigerian and the fourth African to win the award after DR Congo’s Dieumerci Mbokani, Ivory Coast’s Aruna Dindane and Morocco’s Mbark Boussoufa.

Onuachu is also the third Genk player to win the Golden Shoe after Branko Strupar (1998) and Wesley Sonck (2001).

Genk chairman Peter Croonen has described the golden shoe win as a boost for not only Onuachu but for the entire team as well.

“Honestly, I’m surprised,” Croonen told the award organisers. “I would of course have been incredibly sorry if Paul had not won, but for some reason, I had the unexpected. Now I’m really happy because it’s well deserved for Onuachu too.

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“Paul is someone who deserves and appreciates every prize. Paul is a collective thinker: he wants to be important for the whole team with his goals, but this individual award is also a recognition that will make him very happy.

“We haven’t seen statistics like that of Paul at Genk for a long time. Paul is not only important for his offensive performance but also invaluable defensively.

“We now have a catching up race ahead of us after the winter break. I am convinced that this trophy will help with that. The Golden Boot will give Paul and the team a boost.”

Last year, Onuachu narrowly missed out on the golden shoe, finishing third in the rankings with nine goals for Genk.

Unfortunately, the striker’s season has been hampered by injury which made him unavailable for selection for the Super Eagles’ 2021 Africa Cup of Nations outing.

Onuachu has scored 12 league goals for Genk so far this season with his side sitting in sixth place on the log.

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