NEW striker Vakoun Issouf Bayo has revealed that he has been watching Celtic for the last few years, as he’s been supporting his friend Eboue Kouassi’s fortunes in the Hoops.
Kouassi has of course been hampered by a series of injuries in his time at Celtic, most recently going off injured in the Betfred Cup semi-final win against Hearts at Murrayfield.
And Bayo would have got a fair understanding of nature of Scottish football from what happened to Kouassi in that match – when he was grabbed in his private parts by Hearts veteran striker Steven MacLean, who later received a two match ban from the Scottish FA for the assault.
Bayo would have missed the game at Ibrox on 29 December – he was getting married that day – but if he did catch in later, he’ll have noticed that the same kind of thing happened again, this time the Rangers striker inflicted the boot to ball assault on Celtic skipper Scott Brown, plus three other assaults on Celtic players.
That time though the Scottish FA took no action. No wonder Celtic were ‘surprised’!
“I have actually watched a lot of Celtic since Eboue signed because we are really good friends,” Bayo said to the media.
“He’s a good player – you don’t sign for Celtic if you’re not – but injury is the big enemy of any professional. You know it is part of your career but Eboue is strong in his head and I’m
convinced he is going to come back.
“If we can help each other we will. We have a community feeling together. I have known him since we were in the Ivory Coast Under-21 squad. We used to spend quite a lot of time together before games and became good friends.
“He encouraged me to come here. Although he’s not playing right now and doing a lot of rehab on his knee we have had quite a lot of exchanges on the phone. I asked him about the team and he said it was a really good group.”
Brendan Rodgers reckons that both his Ivory Coast stars can make an impact at Celtic.
“These kids are so hungry for success,” the Celtic manager noted. “To have the commitment to go to places where no people speak their language, to learn and play football.
“I’m a big admirer of that and I love it about both of them. Eboue went to Armenia then to Russia. .
“The West African boys’ migration usually takes them to France and Belgium before moving on – but some of the lads have to go a different route.
“Their love of football means they go to these countries though and get picked up from there. And it’s then a case of shaping them on and off the pitch.”
Rodgers credits Kolo Toure as being a major factor in match-making Celtic and Bayo, convincing both parties of the wisdom in getting to know each other better.
“Kolo Toure spoke highly of Bayo as being a good guy. We talked through his strengths after we had watched him but Kolo could enlighten us a bit more.
“He’s not the finished article but one to develop. He has a good profile. He is really good in the air. It will be interesting to see how he develops.”
Bayo has impressed in training since getting his work permit sorted at the end of last week and although Brendan Rodgers initially thought that the striker would be a few weeks away from making his debut, that could now come much quicker.
We might even see him coming off the bench on Wednesday night against St Johnstone at Celtic Park.
Also on The Celtic Star…
Celtic Fans TV – Banner Reactions, ‘Back the manager or he’ll end up leaving us’
Jim Craig – Goals from Bobby Carroll, John Divers and Mike Jackson see off Morton
‘Is there a concerted plot to crock Ryan Christie?’ asks David Potter
A Game of Frustration turns to Delight for Man of the Match McGregor
“We’ll have to wait and see,” Brendan on the transfer window
