I felt part of things at Celtic when I was on receiving end of practical joke, says new Bhoy Mohamed Bangura
MOHAMED BANGURA knew he’d fit in at Celtic when he walked out of the shower to find Scott Brown had tied his shoes to the ceiling.
Now the Sierra Leone striker wants to thank his new team-mates for their warm welcome to Scotland by providing the goals to cure their travel sickness in Europe.
Bangura will join his new friends in France this week ahead of their Europa League clash with Rennes, knowing they must win to get back on track after a disappointing start to their Group I campaign.
That means bucking a trend that has seen Celtic win just one of their last 31 away games inEurope.
But the 22-year-old is keen to make his mark on Thursday night as he continues to settle in to a side that welcomed him with open arms – and plenty of practical jokes – after his £2.2million move from AIK Stockholm in August.
Bangura said: “I have settled quickly and I’m enjoying it.
“The only thing that surprised me is just how friendly the players and staff are. They have made me feel so welcome from the very start and I feel good.
“I like the jokes the boys play. Victor Wanyama and Scott Brown are the two who like to play jokes the most. It’s fun.
“After training you go to have a shower and when you come back your shoes or clothes are up on the ceiling and everyone is shrugging their shoulders and saying ‘I don’t know.’ But everyone knows it’s Brown who is responsible.
“They didn’t do anything to me on my first day. They waited until my third day!
“It is nice because it’s fun and the jokes make you feel part of it. I have not actually played any tricks of my own yet but they will come. I have some big plans!”
Settling in off the pitch is vital for any new player but it’s how well he adapts on the pitch that will decide if Bangura succeeds – and it has taken time so far.
Without a goal in his first seven games, critics have questioned his touch and composure but it is far too early to be passing judgement on a guy who clearly has pace to burn and came with the highest recommendation from Hoops legend Henrik Larsson.
At this early stage, perhaps the less frantic environment of European football could be his ideal platform to flourish and build the confidence needed to adjust to the hectic demands of the SPL.
And there’s no doubt Celtic need a hitman who can operate on the continent when they go to Rennes seeking a win to lift them off the bottom of their group.
Bangura said: “There is more energy and power involved in the SPL so you have to fight hard, think fast and keep your discipline.
“It is still quite new to me but I have experience of playing in Europe before.
“My first game for AIK was in Europe against Rosenborg and I had a good game. It was the same here – the game against Udinese was my first 90 minutes and I enjoyed it.
“We were unfortunate to draw that game because of a late penalty and it was frustrating for us.
“Now I think we need to go to France and win. We can do it.”
The Larsson seal of approval was all most Hoops fans needed to hear when Bangura signed but being associated with any club legend can become a lead weight on a player’s shoulders.
Yet Bangura insists he feels no pressure to live up to Larsson’s recommendation and insists it would be wrong to attempt to draw any comparisons with the man fans hailed the King of Kings.
He said: “I am Bangura. Henrik said nice things about me but I’m here to make my own name.
“I didn’t really speak to him but he wanted me to join his team, Landskrona BoIS, before and spoke to my coach at AIK.
“I used to watch him on YouTube playing for Celtic and at the training centre you can see his pictures every day to remind you of what he did for this club.
“It’s flattering but the manager has told me to play my own game and to have confidence in myself.
“He told me that is why I am here and to go out and enjoy it. I don’t worry if I make a mistake.
“The manager knows sometimes you can make a mistake but it is how you react to it.
“If I make a mistake the next time I have to do something better.”
Euan Mclean, Sunday Mail, Scotland
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