Coventry's boy from Burundi

Great story. I hope he goes a long way in the game.

Nice story

What an endearing story!!

Can't say I've heard much of the player, but will be intersting to see whether he stays with the sky blues if they are relegated. No doubt with his reported work ethic he has all the potential to become a premiership player.

All this user's posts have been removed.Why?

Good for him - seems like a lovely lad - and having spent some time in neighbouring Rwanda I wish all the best to anyone from that troubled region who can make a go of it - and be an ambassador for their country.

Would he consider coming to help out Rangers ? The boy obviously knows hardship.

Nice to see a positive story. Best of luck to the boy, ive spent a part of today reading gruesome story followed by tragic story followed by more horrible news. This is a good wee lifter.

Since he's been living here since he was 11, it would suggest to me he could play for England one day.

As a Coventry fan, let me be the first to say "hands off" to fans of other clubs eyeing Gael up after his award and this article. We're struggling both on and off the pitch and desperately need to hold on to the players we have, whether we stay up or not.

He has a long way to go, but the signs are promising. He's already demonstrated a fantastic attitude, but I do feel he can be too nice at times. He has great composure and self-confidence, but - as Paul points out - he lacks a killer instinct in front of goal. In fact, he has yet to score for us, and I'm hard-pressed to remember him actually attempting to shoot. He is also a little lightweight, but he will surely bulk up as he gets older.

His vision and range of passing, though, is tremendous and he has a fantastic touch.

If he continues his development at this rate, I'm certain he will have a terrific career. For now, though, he should stay with Coventry and make the most of the first-team experience we're giving him.

"don't bet against it being the last."

Is this the exact opposite of what you meant? Or do you really think he will never smile again?

Have worked in Bujumbura, and now how keen the kids are to play football and have something of a normal existence with conflict going on all around them. They want first and foremost to enjoy playing and enjoy being part of the team.

Knowing this, it is not surprising to read that he is loved by his team mates - but doesn't have a killer instinct. not surprising given his background. I hope he does really well, and that his personality and commitment coupled to his ability will enable him to do well. I'm sure he'll be an asset to any team he plays for, though suspect that his light build will not see him rise to the very top in the UK due to the physical demands of playing here.

Great to read about him. Thanks for the blog.

I'm a season ticket holder at the Ricoh and in a dark, dark season Bigi has been one of the bright spots along with some of our other great young talent such as Cyrus Christie and Connor Thomas.

11. At 18:02 12th Mar 2012, Paul Fletcher wrote:

I think that his story is one of those that reminds you what can be achieved if you really pursue what you desperately want to do.
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Oh! I had read it completely differently! I had read it as a wonderful story about a fantastic young man that shows us all how we should appreciate the fortune of our circumstances. He is a bright light in a world filled, driven and controlled by the Terrys, Lampards, Coles, Nasris, etc., a young man who seems delighted at the prospect of playing football and getting paid for it. He is how we wish all professional footballers should be, he fulfills all our childhood dreams. How many times have we heard, or indeed said ourselves, how we wish these moaning, over-paid, spoilt brats that we call footballers would just shut up and realize that the rest of us would love to be in their position, and would do it for free instead of demanding ridiculous sums of money and behaving like an absolute tool if we don't get what we want.

All hail Gael!

Given that the sense of outrage is still simmering around English football, I thought I'd take the chance to point out that the use of the term 'boy' in the media seems to be associated with people of colour or from lower social classes/'developing regions'.

It has a somewhat patronising tone even though it is typically used by people in a 'postive' manner.

This is not based on any content analysis research, but just something that I have picked up on. I'm sure many of the people reading this are just as outraged by as I am by recent events.

That being said, it was nice to read that the boy from Africa had a huge grin on his face.

@ #14: the 'boy' being referred to is the 11 year-old Bigirimana asking at Coventry's training ground; how would you prefer that he be referred to? 'Boy' is surely an appropiate term for an 11 year-old male...

Will this mean a return to more regular blogs by the way, Paul? I hope so.

@15 @16

The comment was made partly in jest in an attempt to make people consider the consistency of their 'moral positions'.

That being said, the title of the piece still refers to him as 'Coventry's boy from Burundi'. Given that he was not a Coventry player when he arrived, I assumed (maybe incorrectly) that the piece is refering to the player as currently being 'Coventry's boy from Burundi'.

@15 I take your point...but you still slipped into the 'smile on his face' cliché.

The trouble is, if he does well, he'll be snapped up by a bigger club who will play him rarely & farm him out on loan on a short term basis, turning him into the professional mercenary that haunt clubs like Man City if he's not careful. The greed at the top of football destroys too many young & talented players' careers, as well as taking away from clubs Coventry the chance to bring talents like his to fruition & reap some of the benefits - other than a bit of cash - of their faith & contribution to his development.

@15 of course it can - didn't mean to offend or complain with my comment, only to give my interpretation and opinion, for what it's worth! What is it they say about good art and subjectivity?!

@19 but it could aslo be a good move as he could break into the first team like oxlade chamberlain at arsenal but i do understand what your saying

"don't bet against it being the last"... is that a triple negative?

Nice story there,
My name is Cyriaque, also from Burundi and i'm happy for Gael and for his story,
wish him all the best.

Nice story, I wish the young lad lots of luck and success

@ Der Retter

I see your point, it was rather unfortunate the irony failed to somewhat translate onto computer screen text. In a similar agreement, I often find it really uncomfortable (and highly un-PC) to be constantly referred to as "boss", as it feel it's a throwback to the colonial era, yet somehow this word is fast becoming somehow an accepted way of addressing someone in London (maybe other places aswell) urban speech.

btw Paul I've missed your blogs this season, hopefully if possible you'll be able to do some more again in the future :-)

good on you Gael,just goes to show you,"where theres a will theres a way"..this story has made my night

How refreshing for a player to have such a good attitude towards football. I hope he goes on to big things :)

Oh and as for the politically correct comments...give it a break,will you not stop until free speech is completely eradicated ???

@9,22"don't bet against it being the last."....award he picks up. Makes perfect sense to me. Hopefully this will now free you up to actually make a comment on the story ;)

A good example of determination from someone who learnt from life of hardship....Gael will be winner....Good luck!

If that isn't inspiration I don't know what is. Sounds like a really nice guy to boot and with his head firmly screwed on.

A real 'Roy of the Rovers' come 'Boy's Own Story'... sincerely wish him all the best... but, the crest of the wave eventually crashes into the beach... sounds like he really needs to continue to work hard to get back into the first team... and Coventry could really do with some magical performances now...

Oh, and the 'don't bet against there being plenty more' final comment from Mr Fletcher makes perfect sense...

What a great story and a previlage for the young star Iwish him all the best. Sometimes I think THE SAYING WHERES THERE'S A WILL THERE'S A WAY done applied because I personally wrote to Drogba at chealse years ago about my son who also is from africa and as young struggling to get a trial so as to help him but not even a reply did I get from him or from the club which was disappointing because I consider him as a role model to my son.

Cole, Lamps, Nasri et al. all started out as lovely little boys wanting just to play footie.
Then money turns them and they recieve not only more money but more pressure until they start moaning and hating everything and everyone. Don´t blame the players, it´s the game (and I´m not talking about football.) Give this boy 200 grand a week and watch him turn into a misrable, self centred so and so.

I worked in Burundi as a volunteer at Kanyosha, just outside Bujumbura, the capital, from 1969-1971.
If I remember my Kirundi, the language of Burundi, the name Bigirimana means "I have seen God".
Sounds as if God has helped him on his feet!!!
Would love to know what happened to some of the people there.