Jo Inge G�sv�r, physical trainer for Sogndal’s soccer team – in Norway’s second highest division – assumed it was a practical joke when English Premier League giants Chelsea asked for advice.

Roman Abramovich’s team casts a wide net in search of improvements. PHOTO: CARL DE SOUZA

On Thursday last week though, G�sv�r was in place on Chelsea’s training pitch in Cobham outside of London.

“I think they were very satisfied with the information they got. I wasn’t thrown out at any rate,” G�sv�r said.

The Norwegian’s audience was the English club’s medical team. Chelsea is considering a purchase of Musclelab, an instrument that measures power and speed in all types of exertions.

G�sv�r wrote about this tool in his post-graduate thesis at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (NIH), and he believes that Chelsea tracked him down via the Internet.

“There is a summary of my thesis on the NIH web pages. I think they found me there and Googled me afterwards,” G�sv�r said, with the result being an e-mail from one of the doctors on the Chelsea medical team asking to learn more about the test system.

“I thought at first that some buddies were fooling around and joking with me. So I checked it out, sent the information after I verified the contact, and then I was invited over,” G�sv�r said.

Seeing the facilities financed by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich put little Sogndal in stark perspective, but G�sv�r also felt it showed that the Norwegian team is doing a good job and has a knowledgeable staff.

Lifted and published by Korir, API/APN africanpress@chello.no source.aftenposteneng