By Ken Gaunt
WHILE Victor Anichebe has put the sun back into Sunderland, there is also a warm glow surrounding the “unassuming” striker way down the football pyramid.
For it’s not every day a Step 7 club finds itself putting out the welcome mat for a Premier League international player.
So Knutsford were more than happy to offer training facilities to the Nigerian international when he came calling.
Anichebe, who was without a club in the summer after leaving West Brom, has already expressed his gratitude to the Cheshire League side – and there is mutual affection between the two parties.
Chairman Jimmy Evans said: “Victor lives in Knutsford and called at the club to speak with the groundsman Brian Deeley.
“He asked whether he could possibly train at the club to keep himself in shape while he was out of contract.
“As football people the answer was obviously yes and rather than Victor purchase training gear we provided him full use and access to our training gear – balls, poles, goals and stuff.
“He came down regularly in the mornings with his brother for a two-hour fitness session and worked very hard, often doing a weights session in the afternoon.
“It was interesting for us to watch his session and to see how the pros do it especially the sharp finishing sessions he did – with high intensity. He never went through the motions but always put a big shift in – which was impressive.”
Evans added: “It was a pleasure having Victor and his brother training at the club in the summer. Victor is a very polite and well mannered, shy and unassuming young man and we were happy to help him out.
“It was our pleasure and privilege to host Victor. He was no trouble at all and we are delighted to see him doing so well at Sunderland.”
