Leicester City of England attacker, Kelechi Iheanacho has confessed that he never expected to be crowned player of the month in the English Premier League, but added that, though he is surprised to get the gong, he is grateful and happy for it.
Speaking in the wake of his first ever award in England’s prestigious top-flight league, the former Columbus Crew of America and Manchester City of England in-form youngster added that he gives thanks to God for making his latest personal silverware possible.
Megasportsarena.com reports further that ‘Kelele,’ who first made an individual impact as most valuable player at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in United Arab Emirates, went on to give thanks to his teammates at King Power Stadium for aiding his latest diadem.
To win the accolade, Iheanacho edged Andreas Christensen (Chelsea), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Jesse Lingard (West Ham United), Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City), Illan Meslier (Leeds United), Luke Shaw (Manchester United) and Leandro Trossard (Brighton & Hove Albion).
The 24-year-old attacker, now fondly called ‘Seniorman Kelz,’ scored five goals in three EPL matches in March to become the fourth Nigerian to take home the award, after former Super Eagles’ captain, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha first clinched it in September 2003, while Peter Osaze Odemwingie won it thrice and Odion Jude Ighalo got one.
He was on target against Burnley and then helped his side sink Brighton & Hove 2-1 away from home, before scoring his first-ever EPL hat-trick in a 5-0 trouncing of Sheffield United, all of which have led to his big moment of joy, and Iheanacho admitted he would love to keep on winning it.
Iheanacho enthused: “I feel great. It’s not great to do, but I’m really happy to win it for the first time in my career. I didn’t expect that, I wasn’t expecting it, but I thank God that it’s happened.
“I’m really grateful and happy. Hopefully, I will keep working really hard to make sure there is more to come.”
