Return from exile makes Boyata feel he’s blessed
DEDRYCK BOYATA admits he was hardly a ball of bonhomie during his long exile from Celtic’s first team. Throughout those months, his wife-to-be knew it was best to steer conversations away from football.
But his problems were kept in perspective. The 26-year-old is not one for self-pity. Channelling his frustrations into further hard work was the route he chose.
Boyata’s re-emergence since has been one of Celtic’s stories of 2017. Having made just one appearance prior to the winter break, he is in line for a seventh successive start when Motherwell visit Parkhead this afternoon.
Sitting at the club’s Lennoxtown training base earlier this week, Boyata was in reflective mood about the journey he has travelled. Not just this year, but through the many before.
He cast his mind back to where his values were formed. In Brussels, and a far from lavish upbringing within a loving family. Moving to England to sign for Manchester City aged just 16 forced him to rapidly grow up.
‘I started football late, when I was 13,’ revealed Boyata. ‘Why? Playing football meant you needed to pay for the equipment or whatever. My situation wasn’t the best when I was younger.
‘My father used to play football in Belgium as well, but I just played for a community team and around school.
‘That was it. Even when I was later playing in the Under-17s and 18s for a first division team, I only had three evening sessions a week. And if I had too much homework then my father wouldn’t allow me to go and train.
‘When I went to England, it seemed crazy. It was nothing like I expected.
‘I remember speaking to my father and saying I wanted to go back. It was training at 9.30am, lunch, weights at 1pm, another training session at 2.30pm and school at 5pm.
‘You would get home at 7pm. And I was going home to digs, where everyone spoke English. I was the only one speaking French. It was hard but there are no regrets. Today, I love my life. I feel blessed.
‘My father pushed me to get through it when times were difficult. He is a football lover.’
Family and faith remain key components in Boyata’s life. There is little trace of any swagger or arrogance about him.
‘When I went to England, I had a little sister who was only three at the time,’ he continued. ‘Today I am 26 and she is 14.
‘I see her today and she is a grown lady. At the time, I could only see her every six months.
‘I would come back and be speaking English. I was mature because living in the digs had given me freedom.
‘I went to an apartment and then you have to learn to look after your money and save.
‘You can then compare your situation with someone else your age who has nothing to do. Your friends want to go and party but you want to rest because you know you have a game.
‘There is some negativity at the time, but really it is positive because it’s make you grow up. You feel like a man, an adult.’
Boyata remains in touch with friends from his school days. As well as some from the Manchester City youth ranks who are no longer involved in football. It makes him all the more thankful for what he has.
‘I’m a very religious person,’ he added. ‘I can look around the world and see things, but I don’t want to go into this right now.
‘I can compare my situation with people I grew up with and my situation is totally different.
‘I have friends who are not in football. But it’s maybe better to compare my life with others who were in football.
‘While I wasn’t playing, I was in the national team, at Celtic and still in a stable position. I told myself there are others worse off in life than me. I told myself that if it doesn’t happen now it might happen later. I still have that chance and I’m still in a good position.’
Boyata revealed recently he had stomped the treadmill at Lennoxtown until 1am as he sought a recall from Brendan Rodgers. That dedication and determination impressed his manager.
Further support came from Kolo Toure. The 35-year-old Ivorian made a substitute appearance late in last weekend’s 6-0 rout of Inverness. It was only his second outing since mid-October, yet Boyata insists Toure remains vital within the dressing room.
‘I’ve said it before, but we have a very good spirit here,’ he added. ‘Kolo was there for me too when I wasn’t playing as he has known me from Manchester City.
‘I’m not a person who smiles every day but he could still see when I was not in the best of moods. He would then tell me: “Hey, don’t worry, your time will come”.
‘He also told me to make sure I didn’t take my mood on to the pitch because it would affect my performance and my football.’