Club-record Faversham Town addition Warren Mfula aiming to strike up partnership with ex-Ashford United man Gary Lockyer
05:00, 09 June 2023
Club-record Faversham recruit Warren Mfula sees no reason why he and Gary Lockyer cannot form a deadly strike partnership.
Mfula has left Isthmian South East Sheppey for Salters Lane for an undisclosed fee.
He joins what already looks like a mouthwatering Lilywhites squad which includes fellow hitman Lockyer, who also dropped down a level earlier this summer.
Mfula said: “We could have gone to many other teams.
“Gary leaving Ashford was probably easier compared to my situation. With Sheppey, I felt betrayal towards me.
“Obviously, I’m just glad Faversham got me. I love competition.
“As a team-mate, it’s always good when someone is pushing you to get the best out of you.
“I’m sure the two of us will work together and then we’ll score so many goals.
“The likes of Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke at [Manchester] United, they did amazing things. Sir Alex Ferguson could have chosen to play with one up top but he chose two - and they went on to win the treble.
“It can happen at Faversham with the two of us up top.”
Mfula and Lockyer were in the top-five goalscorers at Isthmian South East in 2022/23.
On last year’s golden boot race, the 33-year-old noted: “Obviously last season, in the Isthmian League, I came third.
“I think all of them got lucky because I was out injured for some time. If I wasn’t injured, I was going to finish top - no question about that.
“But the injury kept me out for a month or two. That gave them the opportunity to catch up.
“Even though I came back, they still managed to beat me by one goal. That says a lot about me, really.
“The target is always to finish top goalscorer and then I’m looking forward to playing with Gary.
“Having played against him a few times, he’s a player I admire. I can’t wait for us to play together.
“It’ll be a big challenge for defenders and I look forward to that.”
The fee Faversham have paid Sheppey for Mfula’s services is an undisclosed one but is the biggest shelled out since the club reformed in 2005.
When asked whether that brought extra pressure, Mfula replied: “Not at all. It’s a good compliment for Faversham to spend what they spent on me.
“There’s no pressure at all. I know what I’m capable of.
“That’s never been an issue. I’m a humble person, I know I work hard, and I know I can deliver.”
Mfula netted 28 goals in all competitions this season and is out to provide real firepower once more.
“My target is always to get as many goals as I can,” he said.
“Every season, I always have the target of scoring 20-plus or 30-plus goals. That’s true of every season that I’ve been playing, there’s not anything special but, yeah, I’ve just said my personal targets.
“If I meet that and the club’s targets, then I’ll have a happy season.”
Familiar faces among the Faversham squad include forward Jefferson Aibangbee, on loan from Sheppey, and full-back Matt Parsons and attacking midfielder Billy Bennett, who he worked with at Holm Park.
“It’s a very strong squad full of good players,” said Mfula.
“If you look at the personnel at Faversham, they’re good enough to compete in the league above - or two leagues higher.
“We’re hoping we’ll all gel together. There’s not going to be any egos, any big time in the changing room, because that can really impact the club.
“We’ll just all get together and aim to get the club’s objectives.
“Obviously, the project is to win the league. I’m a winner, I always want to win at every opportunity I get.
“The target is to win the league but also to get the opportunity to play at Wembley in the FA Vase. That’s also very appealing.
“If you add those two together, it was an easy thing for me to say yes to.
“On top of that, I’ll be surrounded by people I know, good players, so it was an easy decision.”
Mfula will add to the list of Town players who have previously enjoyed success at Step 5 as he attempts the feat of winning the league again after his 2021/22 Sheppey success.
“That’s the aim,” he said. “Obviously, I know the league. I know what to expect.
“Having strong experience in that league, that will definitely help. I will be able to use my attributes and ability to Faversham’s benefit.
“I know in the league there are some tough places to go to, especially Deal, and so it’s hard to get points from them.
“That experience that I had with Sheppey - having played in the same league before with Croydon Athletic - that’ll be very beneficial to me and for Faversham as well.”
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