Micheal Chopra has admitted this week in an interview with the Guardian that he joined SAFC to pay off a gambling debt to bookmakers . Chopra was signed by Roy Keane in July 2007 for a reputed £5M from Cardiff City on a four year contract and scored the first goal of the 2007/08 Premier League season after coming on as substitute in the lunchtime game on the opening day of the season.
Whilst Chopra did not name Sunderland specifically in the interview he admitted " I had to leave Cardiff and sign for another team to pay that debt off" referring to a debt he had apparently incurred whilst playing for Newcastle prior to joining Cardiff in 2006.
There will not be many Sunderland fans shedding tears for Chopra who has recently checked into the Sporting Chance Clinic again to try to combat his gambling addiction . News that Chopra has lost between £1.5M and £2M gambling away his inflated wages may partly explain why at about the same time as joining Sunderland, Chopra split with his wife of only a few weeks after a £250 000 wedding that was showcased in OK magazine.
There were a few eyebrows raised on Wearside when the self confessed diehard Newcastle fan joined SAFC but his debut goal which allowed Sunderland to top the Premier League for around three hours on Saturday August 11th 2007 will long be remembered as the last time this famous club could look down on the rest of the League .
Chopra's reaction after the victory over Spurs was indicative of the mood on Wearside prior to the game :
"I knew coming from Newcastle I had to get off to a good start to win a lot of hearts, and to actually score the winner in the last minute is just what dreams are made of.
"I had to put to one side being a Newcastle lad and do what was best for my job. Thanks to the manager he has kept me in the Premiership and I just want to pay him back with goals."
Chopra scored six goals for Sunderland that season and was finally sold back to Cardiff City in July 2009 for £3M and is now playing for Ipswich in the Championship when not down the bookies or in "Rehab".
Anyone with a crystal ball like to guess when the Black Cats might top the Premier League next?
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