ROKER ROUNDUP: “I’m not a liar!” - ex-Sunderland man hits out re: controversial China departure
Former Sunderland striker Victor Anichebe has taken to Instagram to clear up rumours about the reasons why he’s still a free agent following news last week that he’d reported his most recent club to FIFA for match fixing.
Reports emerged last week that Victor Anichebe had reported his former club Beijing Enterprises to FIFA over match-fixing concerns.
According to a report in the Daily Mail, Anichebe was asked ‘not to try’ by the Chinese club’s coaches and when he queried that with his team-mates, was told ‘this is China, we do as we’re told’.
The former Sunderland striker has responded to those reports on Instagram where he revealed that although he was left with a positive experience of the country, the past year has been ‘incredibly testing’ for him due to Beijing Enterprises trying to silence Anichebe’s claims.
Costa Rica take on Mexico in a friendly this week and that game will mark the first game in charge for their new manager Gustavo Matosas.
On his arrival in Mexico for the friendly match, Bryan Oviedo said he is keen to impress the much travelled Uruguayan coach but admitted that he did not know much about him:
Everything starts from scratch, a new coach comes in and we’ll now try to show that we want to be here.
[I know him] very little, I have never worked with him. We are all excited about this new opportunity we have of a new coach and from now on we will start working in the best way.
Oviedo also revealed that he’s excited to play against Mexico, thanks to his country’s ‘healthy rivalry’ with their hosts:
For us it’s a Classic to play against Mexico, we have a beautiful rivalry, obviously healthy, I think it’s going to be a very important game for the two teams.
Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images
First goal for Shields
Connor Shields scored his first goal in his first league start whilst out on loan at Alloa Athletic at the weekend. The fantastically taken headed goal put his side 3-0 up against Queen of the South but Alloa had to settle for a draw thanks to a Stephen Dobbie hat-trick.