It’s a good thing that Gael Bigirimana is going on loan to his former club Coventry City and of course when he signed on for Newcastle in the summer of 2012 for £1M from Coventry the Sky Blues had just been relegated after finishing second bottom in the Championship with 40 points.
As an aside that’s the same time that Southampton were promoted to the Premier League and they have done so well since then – and more successful than Newcastle over the last several seasons.
Gael Bigirimana in Newcastle colors – excited to rejoin Coventry
Gael is not only delighted at going back to what he calls his home town club but he would just love to get them promoted and he also says he’s learned so much in his three years at Newcastle.
Gael was born in Burundi in 1993, and moved to England with his family as a refugee back in 2004 as an 11 year-old to get away from the civil war and he settled in Coventry.
He did represent England at U-20 level a couple of times after joining Newcastle, but he has just represented Burundi at the senior level for his first cap during this International break.
This is what Gael has said about his loan spell coming up at the Sky Blues:
“I’m so pleased to be back and to play for my home club. “I call it my home club because it is where I grew up and started my career. My home club – contract wise – is Newcastle but Coventry always has a special place in my heart.”
“I can’t wait tomorrow to see the boys and see the people who weren’t in today. I’m very excited to play with the boys. Conor Thomas is like a brother to me and Ivor and James Maddison I played with too so it would be a fantastic experience.”
“The club are doing great so it’s a great bonus for me to come while confidence is high. My target is to get games and add whatever the manager needs me to add into the team.”
“We have to continue winning games and by the time January comes, I want us to still be 1st or 2nd – still in a good position. Then we’ll see my future from there.”
“But one thing I want to put right is that the club was relegated when I was here, so it would be a dream come true part of a team that takes the club back where they belong.”
“It’s been a difficult last two seasons as I haven’t played much. But I believe I left Coventry as a boy and am coming back as a man.”
“I feel like I’ve learned so much, my move to Newcastle has been worth it and I can’t wait to show the City fans the player that I’ve become.”
“You learn a lot by not being in the situation but outside of the situation. I need games and match fitness but in my head when I was younger with Coventry I used to use more of my energy to run around,”
“But now I’m more experienced in my head. I manage games better, of course I want to put a shift in but I know when to move and when not to a lot more now.”
Gael is certainly excited about returning to Coventry and given his situation back in 2004 when he first arrived in England it’s not surprising he considers the Sky Blues his home town club.
Let’s hope Gael does as well as Adam Armstrong has done at Coventry on loan and that he can help them get promoted back to the Championship.
That would be great.
It’s also important now that Gael is 22 that he has a very good loan spell if he is to stay on Tyneside and have a career at Newcastle.
Comments welcome.
9 comments so far
will die for the toon army
Nov 17, 2015 at 9:24 AM
Comment #1BandB
You are rushing my man. Mcca has a plan. He made mistakes in summer coz he was learning his squad. If Aarons goes on loan i wld second that. Coz he has no chance he has 3 subs ahead of him.
In Cisse, De Jong and Thauvin.
We dont have 2 players in one position but with the right investment we arent far away we made a mistake in letting Kemen Bigi and Abeid leave. Those were up coming CMs and with Tiote and Anita.They were better than them.
Jib
Nov 17, 2015 at 9:27 AM
Comment #2More and more stories abou Nigel de Jong coming to SJP
http://www.pianetamilan.it/focus/calciomercato-milan-de-jong-via-le-possibili-destinazioni/?refresh_ce-cp
You OK BandB ? My man 😎
will die for the toon army
Nov 17, 2015 at 9:31 AM
Comment #3BandB
With our current formation we have 2 people per position though i beleive our backup is too poor and injury prone.
Team A:
………..Krul
Janmatt….Mbemba…Colo….Dummett
Sissoko…Tiote….Colback..Wijanldum
……….Perez……Mitrovic
Team B:
……….Darlow
Mbabu….Taylor….Lasceles…Haidara
Obertan..Anita….Goufrann….Thauvin
………De Jong….Cisse
Reserves:
Elliott, Aarons, Marvuex, Good, Rivere, Bigi, Woodman.
TikiTakaAcca
Nov 17, 2015 at 9:32 AM
Comment #4I have no idea why he’s been allowed to leave on loan, even if it is short term.
He’s been a revelation for the U21s and looks like he’s matured so well. He’s ran a few of the U21 games i’ve seen and when he isn’t on the pitch, the team crumbles. Really hope he’s given a chance in the first team when he returns.
hibbitt
Nov 17, 2015 at 9:39 AM
Comment #5tiki ……best thing for bigi is playing every week we dont have enough under 21 games ….at at coventry he has a chance to get back to his best very quickly playing every week
BandB
Nov 17, 2015 at 9:44 AM
Comment #6Will die
I do believe your two teams make my point.
Eleven purples of whom few are truly top class, and a reserve team made up of those on their way out of the club and which doesn’t contain a single substitute who you’d cheer onto the pitch as a Premier league game-changer.
will die for the toon army
Nov 17, 2015 at 9:45 AM
Comment #7Bigi was better than Abeid and if he can get back to his best then we will have a player on our hands.
I jst pray we keep him. Bigi looked so mature wen he played for Burundi he was pulling all the strings.
will die for the toon army
Nov 17, 2015 at 9:50 AM
Comment #8BandB
Mcca for gamechangers. He has to pull together with his coaching staff to see what they can get from Obertan, De Jong, Cisse and Thauvin.
Coz i believe the other backups can come in and do the job.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Nov 17, 2015 at 9:50 AM
Comment #9Will die…I believe the only mistake we made there was letting Abeid go. Bigi should have been out on loan last season – I don’t see him having a future here.
As for Kemen he’s shown nothing to warrant all that fuss mate. I wouldn’t have mind keeping him seeing ad he’s still young.
Jeff…you read way to many random foreign papers 😉