Iheanacho On Traditional African Cooking, FIFA Tournaments & Brendan Rodgers
- Kelechi Iheanacho says he’s keeping occupied via fitness programmes, cooking and video games during the COVID-19 pandemic
- City’s frontman spoke highly of the impact Brendan Rodgers has made on him
- The striker commented on close friend Wilfred Ndidi’s efforts in the inaugural ePremier League FIFA tournament last week
The Foxes frontman has been sticking to his training regime in a bid to stay fit during the COVID-19 pandemic that has put a halt to Premier League proceedings.
Like many in the City squad, Iheanacho has also spent time perfecting his cooking skills, with traditional foods native to West Africa on the menu.
“I’m just doing my personal training at home,” said Iheanacho. “The training coaches send us stuff for training and everyone is just training at home and doing some exercises.
“I’m playing games, I’m reading my Bible as well, so not much, but it’s not bad. I’m just doing what I should do – work, reading books.
“I can cook as well – plantains, yams, rice, beans, chicken and all the rest. It’s been good, it’s a good way to keep busy.”
Catching Up With Kelechi Iheanacho
LCFC TV check in with Foxes striker Kelechi Iheanacho via video call, as he runs us through his fitness regimes and cooking sessions.
For Iheanacho, the bond he has built with his fellow Foxes since joining the Club from Manchester City in 2017 means he is very much missing the day-to-day camaraderie of the bustling Belvoir Drive training complex.
“To be fair, it’s been difficult and I’m missing my team-mates so much,” he said. “I’m missing everybody, especially Wilf [Ndidi]. It’s not been easy, but I’m missing everybody.
“I’m trying to keep in contact with everyone and the staff as well. I’ve been able to talk to Wilf most of the time as well as the other lads, and the manager.
“He’s a good friend and a good man, and he keeps in touch – he listens to every other player. We’re a good family and hopefully I will be back on the pitch.”
Manager Brendan Rodgers has been in regular contact with his players, and when asked about the Northern Irishman’s impact on the team, Iheanacho explained why he’s improved him – on and off the pitch.
“It’s been wonderful, he’s been great since he’s come in,” said the City No.14. “He’s changed the environment and the atmosphere. He’s changed the players’ mentality.
“The staff, everyone is happy. He’s a good friend, he’s a good coach, he’s a good man, so it’s just a perfect one for Leicester City.
“Everyone is happy to have him and I’m very happy to have him as my manager. He’s made me a better person and a better player, so I’m happy.
“I can’t wait to come back on the pitch with him again, so we’ll keep working.”
One of Iheanacho’s closets friends and international team-mate Wilfred Ndidi represented the Club in the inaugural ePremier League FIFA invitational tournament last week, losing out to Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Diogo Jota, who went on to win the competition.
“To be fair, Diogo Jota is a good player on FIFA and I think Wilf is good,” said Iheanacho. “I taught him well, but it wasn’t a good outing.
“Diogo was strong, but we learn from our mistakes. Maybe next time he will learn more from me before he goes to compete!
“Me and Wilf always play. He beats me and I beat him, but I haven’t seen any others because we always play on the bus when we go to games.
“I haven’t seen any of the lads play FIFA, but maybe, we might have good players but they don’t find it interesting to play all the time. Demarai [Gray] plays sometimes, but I don’t know. I don’t see if they play.”
During Iheanacho’s interview with LCFC TV, in picture is a framed Leicester City shirt that he wore during the 4-0 success over Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup last season.
“It’s the Fleetwood game, the cup game – the first VAR goal in English football,” he said. “I’m happy to be part of it and to be a Leicester player to achieve that. It’s a great moment for me.”
The striker is no stranger to VAR-awarded goals, having had a dramatic injury-time winner against Everton in December also confirmed by the technology.
He said: “That should be my moment of the season, to be fair. I can’t describe how I felt that day, but it was absolutely outstanding, that day.
“Everyone was happy and we enjoyed that moment, so it was a great moment for me, especially for the squad, for Leicester City. It was a great moment, so that should be a moment of the season.
“I’m very pleased to be part of the group and part of Leicester City this season, to help bring something to the team as well as everybody, because everyone is a huge part of the team.
“I’m happy, personally, to contribute something this season to the team. I’m really excited and hopefully we’ll keep going. I will continue working and continue contributing more to the team.”
Finally, Iheanacho was the latest member of the City squad to urge people to abide by the Government’s guidelines and stay home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s important to stay at home,” he said. “It’s important for us to listen to the Government and to go by their rules.
“It’s very, very important for us, for everyone, because it will help save lives. My message for everyone is to please stay at home, save the NHS and save lives.”