Benji Kimpioka admits he struggled at first to come to terms with adapting to a new country, but the Swedish Under-21 international is delighted he stuck it out at Sunderland.
The unpredictable forward is in Roland Nilsson’s under-21 squad for games against Russia and Scotland in this international break, despite not having been in a Black Cats’ first-team squad since the transfer window shut.
He was persuaded to turn down a loan move in January because manager Jack Ross told him he was part of his plans, and with eight games in April, the chance of playing a part in their League One promotion run-in cannot be discounted.
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But whether he gets on the field or not this season, it seems the 19-year-old with a direct running style has a big part to play in Sunderland’s future, so they will be pleased he overcame his initial difficulties on moving to Wearside.
“Going abroad to play football was like a dream (for) the first few weeks,” he told Swedish newspaper Uppsalatidningen. “After a month, the homesickness hit. I missed the family and friends. In my spare time I was just sitting in the room and playing video games.
“But it passed and I can’t complain. I am living my dream and have made many friends at the club.”
Kimpioka was not the only Swedish player in Sunderland’s academy when he first arrived, but Joel Asoro – who is also in the under-21 squad for the upcoming games – has since moved to Swansea City.
Kimpioka’s biggest impact this season has come in the Football League Trophy but he did not feature in the semi-final and seems unlikely to play in the final at Wembley a week on Sunday, even with Kazaiah Sterling cup-tied and Will Grigg a doubt with an ankle injury.
Even so, his two goals in this season’s competition have shown his potential, and in Ross he has a manager who believes in him.
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Ross fast-tracked Kimpioka, who can play wide or at centre-forward, into the first-team squad in pre-season after seeing him score four times for the under-23s against Wearside League club Silksworth CW in a behind-closed-doors friendly.
Now the onus is on Kimpioka to make the most of it.
“I am very grateful to have been given the chance in the first team, now I just have to fight on,” he said.
