Loyalty was behind new deal – ‘Dokes’

UDOKA Godwin-Malife has said loyalty played a big part in his decision to sign a new two-year contract at Forest Green Rovers, writes Mark Halliwell.

The defender, 20, had been linked with Championship clubs Preston and Huddersfield after an impressive campaign with Forest Green last season, having made the step up to League Two from non-League Oxford City in 2019.

After picking up extra match time in a loan spell at Eastleigh during the 2019/20 season, he became a regular in Rovers’ League Two side in 2020/21.

Godwin-Malife, known to the squad as ‘Dokes’, played a crucial part of Rovers’ run to the play-offs last season, taking part in more games than anyone else in the squad – 50 in all competitions.

“I love this club.” he said. “This is where I got my first professional contract and everyone here has been good to me.

“I’ve been shown great loyalty and I felt I should repay that.

“I am delighted to finally get it done and I can’t wait for the new season to start and to see the fans back in the stadium.

“That atmosphere at the playoff semi-final second leg was amazing and it gave me that buzz for what next season could be like with fans back in the stadium.

“We’ll wait to see what happens with the regulations. but it would be a big bonus if fans are allowed back in the stadium next season.”

Rovers went down 5-4 on aggregate to Newport in that semi-final clash after a thrilling second leg at the New Lawn, and Godwin-Malife is hoping to go one better next season under the club’s new management team of Rob Edwards and Richard Kyle.

“It’s good for my development to be here,” he said. “Last season I played nearly every game and I feel that if I get more games under my belt I will improve and excel, and this is the best place to do it.

“It was nice to be involved in something so important with the play-offs last season and I felt like I was improving game by game.

“It was an experience I had dreamt of since I was a kid and long may that continue. Hopefully I can keep improving under the new manager with the ambitions he has got for the club and where he is trying to take the club with his style of play. They (Edwards and Kyle) seem to be two great guys and I had great conversations with both of them.

“I am excited about what I heard from them and what they want to bring to the club. Rich Hughes (director of football) was also a big factor in me re-signing.”