Bundu's First Interview

Mustapha Bundu’s journey to Argyle, figuratively and literally, has been an interesting one.

The forward, who signed for the Pilgrims on Deadline Day, from Anderlecht, has developed via the Craig Bellamy Foundation Academy in his native Sierra Leone, via the unusual path of Hereford, AGF in Denmark, then his spell in Belgium, which has been punctuated by a trip of loans.

Bundu joined Argyle off the back of an impressive loan spell in the Spanish Segunda Division with FC Andorra. Bundu impressed during his time in Spain, helping Andorra to their highest ever league position.

The Sierra Leone international seems pleased to have finally arrived at Argyle, after a long and stressful process.

Two weeks after his signing was announced, he took his place on the Harper’s Park training ground. Argyle physio had visited Belgium prior to the signing, to conduct a medical, and Mustapha had. Country-hopped, getting the paperwork necessary to join up with his new club.

On Thursday, he sat down with Argyle TV, after his first training session with his new team-mates.

“My first day's been really good,” said Mustapha. “The players, everyone around the club has welcomed me pretty well. It's been easy to join the guys.

“It's been a bit stressful, but both parties knew we had to be a bit patient because of all the visa stuff.

“I know it's a very good club, a very loving club. The people are close and a massive fan base traveling all around the country to support the team which has been through a lot the last few years.

“I said yes to the offer, to the opportunity to take another step in my career.”

Bundu has had an unusual football career path so far, whilst he was studying at Hartpury College, he made one appearance for Newquay, scoring twice off the bench. He then moved to Hereford where he only spent one season due to work authorisation restrictions, but scored at almost a goal; a game while he was there.

He made his move away from England to Danish side AGF, where he started his professional career. Four years and 101 appearances later he secured a move to Belgian giants Anderlecht. He has since been out on loan back to the Danish Superliga, where he played for Copenhagen and former side AGF, and FC Andorra.

But it all started for him in his home city of Freetown in Sierra Leone, where he was part of the Craig Bellamy Academy, which was a charity set up by former Wales and Premier League striker Craig Bellamy, for whom Bundu is truly grateful for the opportunity.

“I moved from home when I was 11 years old,” he said. “I moved away from my family.

“Craig Bellamy, he had a football academy that he built in Sierra Leone, to help kids to achieve their goals.

“Luckily, I was one of those kids. I would not be here, I would not be sitting talking to you guys if it wasn't for Bellamy, so I’m very grateful.

“I spent four years there. I was going to school playing football and learning. During those four years he would send me to England every year to go train with some of the clubs that he's played for, like Man City, Liverpool, Cardiff just to get experience.

“In the back of his mind, he knew that we couldn't sign, but it was just to get us exposed a little bit and to get people to know what sort of things he's doing, and these are the boys that he's working hard for and trying to give a better life.”

When Mustapha was asked what he would bring to the team he said: “I'm a fast player, I like to score goals when I get the opportunities and I like to create also.

“It's one of the main things that people say about me, I’m unselfish, I like to create chances for the team and also score goals because scoring goals wins games.

“Speaking to the coach and looking at videos, I think the system Argyle play and the way they play, would suit me as well.”

You can watch Mustapha’s full first interview now, as a subscriber to Argyle TV.