Members News: CCFC’s Ex Burundi Int’l Hits His Big 30th Today. ‘Happy Birthday’, Bigi!!
Gael in the Sky Blue
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 big 30th 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.
Bigi is presented with his CCFPA award by Dietmar Bruck
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 two (cup) goals in his 45 overall appearances.
The Wembley scorers Bigi & George Thomas celebrate
The end of the 2016-17 season for Gael was most marked by a Wembley goal for our victorious Checkatrade Trophy winners, the birth of his first child (a daughter) the night before the Final and a number of end-of-season awards.
Sky Blue Legend Dietmar Bruck presented Gael with his CCFPA award on the stage of Lady Gs with fellow CCFPA committee members Billy Bell and former Sky Blues, Kirk Stephens and Dave Bennett also present (left).
To the disappointment of many fans Gael, perhaps understandably, then decided to leave Coventry City for the second time, signing a two year contract for Motherwell preferring to play in the Scottish Premier League rather English League Division Two. The other Wembley scorer George Thomas (now also a CCFPA member) also subsequently departed.
Gael playing for Burundi
‘Bigi’, a man of profound faith and obvious playing ability, continued to develop his potential in Scotland and has played international football for his country of birth (22 caps since 2015) Burundi (and has captained them). By the end of his Motherwell contract Gael had made 57 appearances scoring 3 goals.
On 31 January 2019, Gael moved to Scottish club Hibernian signing to the end of the 2018–19 season but departed the club in May 2019 having only made a single appearance (and that from the subs bench). At the end of October 2019 Gael played out a two month contract with Midland non-league club Solihull Moors before in August 2020 trying his luck in Ireland, joining NIFL club Glentoran for the 2020-21 COVID affected season and appeared 34 times for the Irish club.
Gael Bigirimana (Glentoran)
In between, during the recent pandemic Gael worked in the city supporting the Coventry food bank. At the time of writing, though having extended his contract at Glentoran for 2021-22, made only three appearances in his time there.
In summer 2022, Young Africans, the Premier League Champions of Tanzania, announced the signing of Bigi for the season and on 1 September 2023, Gael returned to Northern Ireland for this season with NIFL Premiership side Dungannon Swifts. This Association wishes Gael every good fortune with his future career, hopes he has a very happy day today and looks forward to welcoming him back to Cov. whenever playing and personal commitments allow!
