Levi tips Stones to shine
Former Maidstone striker Levi Amantchi is backing his old club to deliver in the play-offs. The fact United are in with a shout of promotion owes plenty to Amantchi’s early-season form at the Gallagher. A summer signing from Brackley, the big man scored 20 goals in less than half a season before joining Bromley.
His tally included 13 in National League South, securing valuable wins for George Elokobi’s side in the opening months.
The 23-year-old still lives in the town - he’s set to move this summer - and he’d love to see his old club make an immediate return to the National League. “They didn’t have the best time there but when you come down, you expect to go back up, don’t you?” said Amantchi. “Look at Yeovil. They came down and have been promoted as champions. Maidstone have good enough players to go up. “They’re in the play-offs now and I don’t see why they can’t win them. I’m backing them all the way.
“I made friends for life at Maidstone and I’m still in contact with the majority of the people there.
“It’s not like I’ve disappeared. I’m still backing the boys and Maidstone will always have a place in my heart. I’m always going to keep checking on them.
“I went to the Ipswich FA Cup game to back the boys as I was still injured. I was in the away end with some of the lads I know.
“It was unreal to watch. I don’t think anyone expected someone from National League South to be playing a Championship team in the FA Cup, never mind winning.
“As much as I’d have loved to play in that game, I’d had a part of it at the start of the cup run, so I was just happy for every single one of the boys. They deserved it.”
Amantchi was in the form of his life at Maidstone where he flourished under Elokobi and assistant boss Craig Fagan. He had to wait for his chance but there was no looking back after coming off the bench to score in a 1-1 draw at Yeovil. “I kicked on from there and didn’t stop scoring,” said Amantchi. “Craig and George are good people to work for. “They back you up and fight for you and when you’ve got people who believe in you, you’re going to do well.
“One thing the gaffer said to me was you’re the best striker in the league and you’ve got to manifest that.
“I took it on board and even if I wasn’t the best striker in the league, the gaffer made me feel like I was and I carried that into games.
“We had a good group. There were no egos and everyone had each other’s backs.
“I didn’t think about the goals I was scoring, I forgot about them and just focused on the next game.
“As much as strikers think about goals, I used to think about doing the basics right, helping the team and trying to win the game. The goals just came along with it.”
Amantchi was stretchered off with an ankle injury in his final
Maidstone appearance, the FA Cup Second-Round win over Barrow in December.
He joined Bromley later that month after they activated a release clause in his contract. He’s made a handful of substitute appearances but continues to be troubled by his ankle.
“It’s still giving me problems now - I’m still injured,” said
Amantchi. “I came back and played 30 minutes against Hartlepool but the ankle started acting up again.
“I had an injection and didn’t feel anything for a couple of weeks but then the pain was back.
“I’m not training properly. I just have to sit out for now, which is frustrating.”