“I want to rediscover the joy of playing football here,” Michel Ange-Balikwisha
Michel Ange-Balikwisha has spoken publicly for the first time since leaving Celtic on a season long loan to Belgian side AA Gent…
The DR Congo international has endured a nightmare time of it in Glasgow since his £5.5 million move from Royal Antwerp, playing just 398 minutes of first team football, despite being fit and available for selection.
Whether it was under Brendan Rodgers, Wilfried Nancy or Martin O’Neill (three times) the 25 year old was forever overlooked and rightly so as he never once imposed himself on any game even when played in a Scottish Cup tie against lower league opposition in Auchinleck Talbot.
Balikwisha recently joined AA Gent on a season long loan deal, with the Belgian side having the option to buy the forward for £3.5 million.
Speaking to Nieuwsbald, after his new team’s win over Oud-Heverlee Leuven, Balikwisha said: “It gives me immense pleasure to be back in action.
“I am a player who, above all, really loves playing football. Whatever happens, I think it is wonderful to be on the pitch. That is why I am so happy to be here. I want to rediscover the joy of playing football here.
“Moreover, this is a club that plays in Europe, and of course, I know the Belgian league very well. In addition, AA Gent followed my situation closely and really wanted me to relaunch my career here.
“It’s not that I would not have been interested in Gent if they hadn’t qualified for Europe. I had contact with the coach before, and he made it clear to me then that he really wanted me to join.”
Michel-Ange Balikwisha faced his older brother William on Thursday night against OHL. Also in the opposing line-up was fellow Celtic loanee Shin Yamada.
On that moment with his brother, the out on loan Hoops forward said: “That was a very nice moment, when I saw him smiling on the pitch again, but I mainly came here to play as much as possible and win trophies.
“There is a lot of competition here, but that is no different elsewhere. On the other hand, you also have to show respect for the team.
“Just because I come from Celtic doesn’t mean I can immediately claim a starting spot. I will have to prove myself, like everyone else. Of course, I hope to get more playing time in the long run, like I did previously at Standard and Antwerp.
“On the other hand, I found a very quiet and family-oriented club here. The group is very modest and also quite young.
“Some of the guys are only just starting out in the Jupiler Pro League, but we are on the right track to achieving something great. I feel really good. Physically, I can also continue to grow step by step.
“Last Sunday I played about ten minutes, and today (Thursday) it was 20 to 25. I want to continue building this way until I can complete a full match again.”
Let’s hope that Balikwisha does indeed rediscover his love for playing football and that he goes onto have a great season to prompt Gent to trigger their option to buy next summer. At Celtic it’s just never going to happen for a player we scouted for well over a year.
