In-form Ipswich striker Michael Chopra has revealed the part that a college course is playing in his recovery from a costly gambling addiction.

Chopra spends every Wednesday — his normal day off — at Suffolk New College in pursuit of a qualification as a car mechanic.

Town’s leading marksman is bang in form at the moment with four goals in his last three outings taking his season’s tally to 11 in 30 appearances.

He is making headlines for all the right reasons after owning up earlier this season to a gambling addiction that he estimates has cost him as much as £2 million over the years.

It has seen him miss a lot of games in the current campaign, firstly when he spent three weeks in the Sporting Chance Clinic and again when he was dropped from the side at the beginning of this year because of a slump in form.

Chopra, 28, said: “I enrolled at the college because I wanted something to occupy my mind and my time on my day off each week.

“Basically, I am messing about with car engines and learning how they work. I went for that course because I’m not the type to sit down at a desk and write essays. I wanted something more practical — the course is probably 90 per cent practical — and where I had a realistic chance of gaining a qualification.”

Photo: Action Images

51blue added 08:09 - Feb 17 Full credit to you Chops, top man!
0

DitchMavray added 08:14 - Feb 17 Exactly the right thing to do, otherwise he'd have a long, long time after retirement to deal with the addiction. Whether he's working in a mate's garage or restoring old classics, this seems like a great use of time. Good luck to him.
0

hogster1970 added 08:17 - Feb 17 well done chops, well if you want to know more about gearboxes then pop round mine i have loads you can dismantle and rebuild
0

cats_whiskers added 08:23 - Feb 17 Obviously knowing what to do if his 'Piston Broke'
0

hampstead_blue added 08:36 - Feb 17 Good lad. Maybe a course in statistics and finance would be better. Hes quickly learn that betting was a negative NPV event and when learning probability and rick management he'd further realise his path away from gambling is a wise choice. Good lad.
0

irishtim added 08:52 - Feb 17 Best of luck.
0

suffolkpoker added 09:03 - Feb 17 Chopra is growing on me all the time!!
0

daniel9624 added 09:10 - Feb 17 Think this series of events and stories will enshrine Chops into the hearts of the fans, especially if it keeps rewarding him on the pitch. Top Man!
0

JewellintheTown added 09:36 - Feb 17 D'ya think if I drove my car down to PR on a match day, he'd do a quick service on it?
0

Dissboyitfc added 10:27 - Feb 17 I have the utmost respect for chops, wonder if any of the lecturers are still there from when I was there. Would not recommend it as living when he finishes football though, top marks and keep scoring :)...coyb
0

pennblue added 10:36 - Feb 17 Good on you Chops, something to focus on outside football. Not you need to get yourself a decent woman.... (unless you have one already!)
0

brd added 10:48 - Feb 17 My friend is in his course, apparently he's thick as **** but big respect to him doing this, will take his mind off the gambling! Let's hope he's get a couple tomorrow
0

Garv added 12:37 - Feb 17 brd let's be honest he doesn't come across the smartest bloke but I respect him greatly for doing this, most footballers would think they are above this kind of work.
0

simonsays added 13:07 - Feb 17 And the course is entitled.....How to succeed at gambling!
0

brd added 14:15 - Feb 17 Precisely Garv. A pro footballer attending a local college and working (getting his hands dirty) in mechanics amongst normal people of all ages, lovely to see that. Shows his determination to get focused on anything but gambling
0

Pessimistic added 14:17 - Feb 17 Love you son. You are rapidly becoming one of my all time favourite players not just because of your footballing skills but because of you honesty and determination. You are an example to all of us!
0

beerhelps added 14:58 - Feb 17 All of us at Pompy on Tuesday night will have noticed the work rate that Chops dispayed, along with the return to form. Whatever your doing, keep it up fella!
0

algarvefan added 15:06 - Feb 17 Not an easy thing to admit to but an important part of winning the battle...well done Chops, proud of you!!
0

Ipswich24 added 16:22 - Feb 17 Keep going Chops COYB !!!!
0

tractorboy1961 added 18:18 - Feb 17 Full of admiration for how he has dealt with his demons. Maybe he can come and have a look at my dodgy starter motor as well!
0

walberswick added 20:35 - Feb 17 Should have done a maths course so that he could get a better grasp of probability and statistics.
0

alljezer added 20:56 - Feb 17 Mate, just think of all the horrible gut wrenching moments when you lost money and hold that thought. It's a f..kin curse gambling. The longer you stay off it, the easier it will get.
0

harlingblue added 21:10 - Feb 17 Great to see that you are doing your best to address a major problem in your life, good that you are mixing with local people who have a different angle on life to that you are living. Well done, keep it up, and thumbs down to the posters who want to appear smart with suggesting the obvious courses you could have attended!
0

Mutiny added 23:13 - Feb 17 Well done - hope everything works out OK and you get your qualifications. Can't turn the clock back, forget the past, and just look forward.
0

Guthrum added 00:02 - Feb 18 Just don't drop a gearbox on your foot!!!
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls