Gael Bigirimana believes the bad times he went through at Coventry City, are now standing him in good stead at Newcastle, and Gael is flying high as a Magpie in the Europa League, after being in the Coventry side that was relegated from the Championship last May.
Gael Bigirimana – already looks a good player in the Newcastle shirt
Newcastle signed Gael in the summer for around £1M and he looks a bargain buy, and likely to become a top player for Newcastle in the not too distant future.
And the 18 year-old has said that the bad times he had to endure at Coventry City last season as a footballer, have made him that much stronger:
“When you go through bad times that is when your character gets stronger.” “As a person you become stronger mentally.” “To be here is like it was written.” “What happened last year makes me ready for the tough challenges ahead.”
Bigirimana joined Coventry as a 12 year-old and he appeared in 28 games for the Sky Blues, but he has made an immediate impact since he moved to Newcastle, and is now regularly included in the match-day 18 in the Premier League, and starts in the Europa league.
But he doesn’t forget just how much the Coventry club has helped him:
“Everybody at Coventry helped me. They are all like my family at Coventry.” “It is my home and where I grew up. It made me the person I am today.”
We knew that Bigi looks at the Newcastle manager as a father figure, and has said he will do anything Alan asks of him in football, such is his respect for Alan’s knowledge of the game, and the Londoner’s ability to get the best out of players, both young and old, at Newcastle.
Of course it was Newcastle Chief Scout Graham Carr who spotted the lad, who else, and quickly saw in him the ability for Bigi to play at the highest levels of football in the future – hopefully in the black and white shirt of Newcastle United.
And Gael has only words of praise for Newcastle manager Alan Pardew:
“He encourages me all of the time. That is important because this is the highest level.”
We think Gael Bigirimana can quickly became a top player at Newcastle, and it will be interesting to see how far he can come in his first season on Tyneside, but we’d be very surprised if hasn’t had a call-up by the England U21 side, by the end of his first season on Tyneside.
For the record, Gael has appeared in 9 game so far this season for the Magpies, and he will turn 19 a week on Monday.
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10 comments so far
FatmanJoe
Oct 13, 2012 at 10:55 AM
Comment #1We’ve got a lot to be excited about with some of the lads coming through. Gael Shane and sammi should get valuable playing time here and make some real progress.
bollance
Oct 13, 2012 at 11:05 AM
Comment #2Joe
Sammy has only played a minimal amount this season. I get the impression he has lost his way a bit and believes the hype in himself.
He needs to get away from the distractions and night life of newcasle and play 1st team football on loan.
That is always the solution, send them out on loan 😉
toonarmydownsouth
Oct 13, 2012 at 11:15 AM
Comment #3Bolance
Thought sammy had been out all season with a hamatring injury only started training again just before the borduex game?
Sammy and geal are prob the 2 most grounded youngsters we have there was a big article dine on them a few weeks back were the held a 5 a side tournament at durham and both took up managers roles against each other in the tournament
89Norcal
Oct 13, 2012 at 11:15 AM
Comment #4Hugely impressed with Bigi’s poise in the midfield, great stuff coming from an 18 year old being tossed into premier league action. He will be a gem for us in the coming years.
The future is bright with youngsters like Campbell, Bigi, Vuckic and Fergie, just as long as we don’t sell all our other great players 🙂
JP...from The Rock
Oct 13, 2012 at 11:16 AM
Comment #5The pick of the bunch of this recent transfer window. This kid really is going places and is extremely close to pushing Tiote out of the side more often than not this season. /He has more composure on the pitch than Tiote be it tackles or when on the ball. He is calm and assured in what he does and an eye for a pass too. This kid is something special and I am really glad we nicked him before anyone else did. Tiote has to be smarter on the pitch and play more like he did last season, he’s still rusty and until then I can see Bigi coming in for him more especially if Mr T is suspended regularly.
HWTL
Ian Magpie
Oct 13, 2012 at 11:29 AM
Comment #6Like this kid alot! Still wet behind the ears but has so much promise. Am possitive he will get even better and will learm from what he has around him as will the other young lads! We have some good promising youngsters coming through and in the long term they will increase in confidence and quality. Really great to see our club bring players through the ranks. My only concern is what happens to the club as we wait for them to develop? Mid table? Top 8? Think patience is going to be the order of the day for the next few years if Derek the Rat is to be believed!
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Oct 13, 2012 at 11:51 AM
Comment #7Ian…..Patience has been and will continue to be the clubs mantra. I know, us the fans, would like progress to be made quicker and it may come to a point where the clubs “long term plan” doesn’t match ours, however, I don’t think we’re there yet. Are we really any worse off now than when Mike came in? Overall, I think there has been progress. We have an exciting team (although they aren’t playing to potential at present).
For me, the wheels are still on and good times are ahead.
So, a question for everyone. With all the talking by Del boy recently, do we all still want information from the club or is ignorance indeed bliss?
jodemode
Oct 13, 2012 at 2:08 PM
Comment #8bollance: seriously, have you been reading the reports on Bigi? He is a “born again” Christian. Night life is the last thing on his mind… Unless it involves Bible study. Please stop talking like all the players do is party.
jodemode
Oct 13, 2012 at 2:10 PM
Comment #9Just to add: the Ameobi’s are also devout Christians. I bet they all hang out and/or pray together.
Made a ma beed
Oct 13, 2012 at 4:02 PM
Comment #10AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHH
Ed we know man, stop doing this Bigi thread every couple of days it’s worse than water boarding! We should get you onto the Taliban, they would surrender!
Bigi is good and has a good future, but we know that!please please stop now Ed.