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Dover Athletic striker Tobi Sho-Silva thinks new club can compete for the National League title

New arrival Tobi Sho-Silva says Dover’s potential is limitless and hopes the new-look Whites can compete for the National League title.

The 22-year-old striker came through the youth ranks at Charlton, from whom he had two loan spells at Welling and a brief stay at Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Following his Addicks release, Sho-Silva trialed scored 11 National League goals for Bromley last season, despite missing several matches through injury.

Tobi Sho-Silva has a shot at goal during his Welling days Picture: David Brown
Tobi Sho-Silva has a shot at goal during his Welling days Picture: David Brown

The striker, who goes by Tobi rather than his full name of Oluwatobi Fabian Shobowale Akintunde Sho-Silva, trained with Dover last summer but could not agree terms before making the move to Hayes Lane.

He said: “I trained here a year ago and Dover contacted my agent and then I met the manager.

“He told me some positive things about how they are building a squad of young players and they want to push to be even higher than they were last season (when Whites were 6th, just three points outside the play-offs).

“I am an ambitious person and the club’s ambitions match mine. The sky is the limit, in fact, there is no limit, my faith has taught me that nothing is impossible.”

Sho-Silva founded The Daniel FC with Ira Jackson Jr, the striker who left Whites this summer, designed to empower and support Christian footballers on and off the pitch.

Sho-Silva said: “I want people to know that I am a Christian and I am open about my faith.”

He added: “I always start a season wanting to win the league and I’m sure the gaffer and the players share my belief that in every game when we step out, we are capable of getting three points from this. I want to have an unbeaten season and win the league.”

Sho-Silva will be relied upon to help fill the void left by the departure of 40-goal hero Ricky Miller, now at Peterborough, but he insisted he did not feel under any pressure. He said: “Everyone is different. I don’t compare myself to others. All I do is try to be the best me I can be.

“I will work hard, I am hungry but I’ll keep my feet on the ground and keep the right mindset.”

Sho-Silva joined his new team-mates at pre-season training this week and said: “We had a good session on Saturday and another on Monday night.

“It was good to meet the lads and there were a few trialists and academy lads.

“I know Loui Fazakerley from my time at Welling and I met Manny Parry and George Essuman at a Christian mission this summer.”

Whites have seen almost every player who achieved a second straight top-six finish in the National League last season either released or reject new deals in favour of a move elsewhere.

Returning keeper Mitch Walker and midfielder Mitch Pinnock are joined in the squad by new arrivals Manny Parry from Braintree, Kane Richards from Chester, Mitch Brundle from Gateshead and Jamie Allen from Southport.

Connor Essam signed up for his fourth spell at Crabble last week and ex Newport striker Ryan Bird and former Boreham Wood full-back Femi Ilesanmi signed on Tuesday night, while Sam Magri is understood to be in talks over a new one-year contract.

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