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Members News: CCFC’s Ex Burundi Int’l Is 31 Today. ‘Happy Birthday’, Bigi!!
CCFPA Wishes ‘Many Happy Returns’ for today to our member, two time Sky Blue and the Association’s ‘Player of the Year’ for 2016-17. Sky Blues former midfielder Gael Bigirimana was born in Bujumbura, Burundi on 22nd October 1993 but moved to the UK with his family as a refugee in 2004, having also spent time living in Uganda. He is celebrating his 31st birthday today!
Gael made a fairy-tale start to his British footballing career turning up unannounced to the Sky Blue training ground asking for a trial and being taken on as an apprentice. Watch the short video below (made whilst ‘Bigi’ was at Newcastle United) where he talks about his joy when, out of the blue, CCFC gave him his first chance to become involved in the English professional game.
In his first spell at the Ricoh as a young professional in 2011-12 Gael made 28 appearances in the Sky Blue (and gained an England U20 cap) before being signed by Newcastle United as an exciting prospect. At this point he also became a CCFPA member. His first time away from Coventry with the Toon Army did not prove to be an unqualified success and a loan spell in Scotland with Rangers was also stalled by injury.
Gael returned to the Ricoh in 2015 and after some ups and downs had a good second half to the season with some influential performances under current Sky Blues gaffer Mark Robins despite the club’s relegation. Gael’s second spell with the club produced
