Gael Bigirimana has said that his move today to Newcastle United is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
The midfielder who has swapped Coventry City and League One for a place in Newcastle’s Development squad and a shot at the Premier League for a fee around the £1m mark minus add-ons, said to Newcastle’s official club website: "They (City) have been like my second family because for the last seven or eight years I've been with them most of the time. They're just like my family and they've changed me so much as a person and as a footballer.
"I used to be a centre-back but (Coventry Academy Manager) Greg Rioch said 'I don't want you to play there, I want you to play somewhere where there'll be bodies around because it's kind of too easy for you at centre-back.
"And now I realise that's where I belong, in the middle. They were great people to have and they were like a great family.
"But you never get too many opportunities like this. It might come once in a lifetime and sometimes you just have to take it and go and learn. It might be hard but life is not promised to be easy so that's why I took the chance."
More on this: http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20120706/bigirimana-its-a-blessing_2281670_2834019