Mulumbu vows to show clubs who snubbed him that they got it WRONG
NEW Kilmarnock star Youssouf Mulumbu can readily identify the awful moment when his worrying spell without a club reached its nadir.
The 30-year-old combative midfielder had played over 150 games in the English Premier League and more than 50 in the Championship, yet no one seemed willing to give him a chance after his summer release from Norwich City.
As if the thought of the season being well under way without a team to play for wasn’t bad enough, Mulumbu truly felt like he had hit rock bottom when he was kicked off a school playing field while trying to keep himself fit for prospective employers.
He eventually spent a fortnight with Sannois, a third-tier French side based on the outskirts of Paris, before breathing a mighty sigh of relief on receiving a call from his former manager and mentor Steve Clarke, now in charge at Rugby Park.
The Ayrshire side have signed him until the end of the season and they are hoping to benefit from the undoubted talents of a man who played in the top flight for Clarke at West Brom.
Mulumbu himself is determined to show every club who shunned him that they all made a big mistake.
‘I was very frustrated by the situation because I know I still have something left to give and that I can help some team,’ said the Congolese international. ‘But it’s hard when you have to go out and run by yourself.
‘But I was patient because I knew that one chance would come along. Now that it’s here, I need to show everyone else that it was a mistake not to sign me.
‘It was very difficult to train on my own for that length of time. I was kicked out by a school after using their playing field, so it was hard mentally.
‘But I’m very strong-willed and I have confidence in my ability. And I know people are going to be surprised once they see me play. The manager is someone who brings out the best in me. He knows me and he is honest — he was honest from the first time he called me.
‘He said he’d just come to the club and that he couldn’t bring me in straight away because he’d need to assess the players first.
‘Now I’m looking forward to playing again under him and to show the people who say I’m always injured — and that I’m finished — that they’re wrong.
‘It’s just not true and the only person who can show that is me. So I have a point to prove.
‘I didn’t come here thinking: “I’ve played in the Premier League and I’ve got all this experience, so this is going to be easy”. ‘I’m here to show that I’m a good player and I’m here to help the young lads.’
Having not played a competitive match since February, Mulumbu will be a substitute at best against Aberdeen tomorrow as Kilmarnock seek to secure their first home win of the season.
‘The manager has said that I might come off the bench,’ said Mulumbu. ‘Maybe 25 minutes first, then maybe 45 minutes.
‘Maybe he wants me to watch from the bench so I can see the speed and the style of the Scottish Premiership. I’m really looking forward to Sunday now.
‘People said to me that this is a small club, but two or three months ago I had nothing, so I thank Steve Clarke for bringing me here. I want to give everything back on the pitch.’
Killie boss Clarke said: ‘He will bring energy to the midfield and experience as well as quality. We were a bit short in midfield.
‘When I found out Youssouf was lying on the couch watching TV, I thought there might be a solution for us and I’m pleased it has worked out that way.’