- Hamza Choudhury says he’s pleased to be able to give something back to the community after being named as a 2019/20 PFA Community Champion
- The Academy graduate received his award in the post during the Premier League’s current suspension of fixtures
- Choudhury has been enjoying time with his family while remaining at home
With the Premier League suspended due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, Choudhury is keeping up with training plans at home in a bid to remain active and focused.
Choudhury, like many of his team-mates, has been adjusting to new work patterns in the absence of top-flight football, but is keeping busy via a combination of parenthood, fitness regimes and TV series in the evening.
“I’ve been obviously staying indoors but I’m just enjoying spending time with the family, really,” Choudhury told LCFC TV.
“Obviously, we spend so much time travelling and at training, so it’s different being at home all the time
“Everyone’s dealing with it. Like I say, it’s so new that at times you can get quite stressed because you’re not used to being indoors all the time.
“You spend so much time outside, being active and stuff like that, so it’s obviously challenging, and as much as I’m sure we’re all enjoying it, it can be difficult at times as well.
“I go on jogs and I’ve got a treadmill in the garage, so I’ve got a little set up in there. The lads, the sports scientists, send you through programmes every day and you’ve just got to sort of work your way through them, which is nice, because it gives you time by yourself instead, keeping concentrated and not just letting everything slip.”
The Academy graduate is one of many Foxes to embrace social media challenges, and late last month was pictured firing a ball into a wheelie bin with suspect precision.
“Quite a few, to be honest, I’m not going to lie,” he joked when asked about how long it took him to perfect the skill. “It took me quite a while to do it…
“You have to [remain casual], especially when you’re posting it somewhere and it looks like it’s the first go, but no, it definitely wasn’t!”
Choudhury’s community efforts over recent months has seen him win the PFA Community Champion award for the 2019/20 season.
His nomination included assisting in several schemes such as Premier League Inspires and the FA's Heads Up Campaign.
“I wasn’t expecting it,” he said. “You do these things not to get the awards. You’re doing them just because it’s the right thing to do, it’s the way we’ve been brought up and the way our club is run.
“It’s nice to be noticed in that sense, but obviously, you’re not doing it to get the awards. You’re doing it just to give a little bit back.
“While I’m privileged to be in the position I am, it’s so important not to forget where you came from. No, it’s really nice going around the city, from going to schools or different events, just showing your face and talking to people.”
Choudhury has participated in a number of community projects, including launching the King Power Quad Nations tournament in February.
“It was so surprising, really,” he said of the event, which saw the world’s best wheelchair rugby teams visit the Morningside Arena.
“I didn’t really expect to go down there and see it be so physical and so competitive. It’s so inspiring seeing them do that and having the pleasure to go down and watch it for the afternoon.
“It’s another event that they’ve (King Power) brought [here] and I’m sure they’ll keep bringing many more to our city, and helping the city grow.”
Emphasising the need to stay at home to save lives, he added: “All I can really do is reiterate the message. These people are the experts, they know what they’re talking about, and they’re doing everything they can to keep our country safe.
“Then, there’s the people that are obviously on the frontline working and literally risking their lives to try and save ours.
“As difficult as we might find it in a sense of it’s as different as it is, we’ve just got to listen to those people and stay at home, because you are literally saving lives.”