Celtic flop relishing fresh start after Parkhead struggles left him desperate to rediscover joy of football
Congo international admits he is loving life back in familiar territory after struggling for regular game time during his spell at Celtic
Michel-Ange Balikwisha has admitted he is delighted to be back playing regular football after securing a loan move away from Celtic.
The 25-year-old Congo international endured a frustrating spell at Parkhead following his £4.5million arrival from Belgian side Royal Antwerp, initially struggling to establish himself in Brendan Rodgers’ plans and managing only two Scottish Premiership starts last season.
With opportunities limited in Glasgow’s east end under veteran boss Martin O’Neill, the winger was allowed to return to Belgium on loan with K.A.A. Gent, where he has already featured in victories over Club Brugge and OH Leuven.
Balikwisha has made no secret of how much he missed being involved on the pitch and is determined to rediscover his enjoyment of the game after a difficult year in Scotland.
“I want to rediscover the joy of playing at Gent,” he said. “For me, it’s fantastic to be able to play again. I love being on the pitch and being able to touch the ball, whatever the circumstances.”
His move to Gent represents an opportunity to reset his career and rebuild his confidence, with the Belgians having monitored his situation closely before making their move late in the summer window.
Balikwisha eager to make most of fresh start
Balikwisha is grateful that Hibs’ recent Conference League conquerors have provided him with the chance to start afresh and believes the prospect of competing domestically while also playing European football makes the move particularly appealing.
“This is the club that has been closely monitoring my situation and now wants to give me a fresh start,” he explained. “Playing on Thursdays and weekends is an attractive prospect.”
Despite arriving with experience of playing for a club of Celtic’s stature, Balikwisha is not expecting to walk straight into the Gent starting XI.
Instead, he recognises that he must prove himself in training and fight for his opportunity, regardless of his previous club or transfer fee.
“Just because I come from a club like Celtic doesn’t mean I have to be a starter from the outset,” he added.
The immediate priority for Balikwisha is simple: get back to enjoying his football, establish himself at Gent and make the most of a fresh opportunity after a nightmare chapter at Celtic.
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