Gaël Bigirimana

Gaël Bigirimana (born 22 October 1993 in Bujumbura, Burundi ) is an English- Burundian footballer who is active for Newcastle United in the Premier League.

Life

Bigirimana was born in Bujumbura, the son of a Burundian father and a Rwandan mother. The boy came in 2004 at the age of ten years, due to political unrest in his country of birth, as a refugee to England, having previously been briefly lived in Uganda. Prior to his move to Newcastle, he was an active member of the Mosaic Church in Coventry. There he served as part of the training team Athletico Mosaic, the football club in the community of faith.

Career

Association

After he spent a year in England, Bigirimana that was active only as a street footballer previously asked, the local football club Coventry City for a trial. The leaders refused first and advised him at a smaller club to ask. But when she saw the boy run up the street, they called him back and invited Bigirimana one.

After Bigirimana convinced the trial, he played from then on for the youth teams of Coventry City. In the season 2011/12 he was first used in the first team. In the 0-1 home defeat against Leicester City, he came over the whole season for use. On 12 March 2012, he was awarded the Championship Apprentice Award, the prize for the best newcomer in the league.

After his first pro season Newcastle United was aware of the now 18 -year-olds. There he signed a five -year contract. The transfer fee was the equivalent of approximately 1.25 million euros. He made his debut on 23 August 2012 for the Association of northern England. In the fourth qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League, the midfielder played 90 minutes in a 1-1 away draw against Atromitos Athens. His start in the Premier League, he was at the home game against Aston Villa, where Bigirimana came in to replace the injured Danny Simpson. The game also ended 1-1. His first goal in professional football, he managed with an excellent long-range goal for 3-0 against Wigan Athletic. Bigirimana is thus the first Burundian -born player to score a goal in the Premier League.

National

Bigirimana is eligible to play for the national teams of Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and England. In April 2012, it became public that the midfielder Rwanda, his mother's homeland to prefer. He graduated no match for the African country, although he appeared in the squad for the qualifying round of the U-20 African Cup of Nations 2013. In the following October, the native Africans stated that he refused a request from the Burundian Football Association due to political instability in the country.

On 28 May 2013, was nominated for the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2013 in Turkey. His debut of midfielder completed on June 16 in a 3-0 victory in a preseason game against Uruguay. He thereby prepared a target.