West Ham’s latest young emerging Championship match winner – albeit a temporary one – has been featured extensively on the official club website in an attempt to explain his love for all things West Ham and the reasons he departed the club which he described as ‘home’.
Divine Mukasa has seriously impressed since arriving ‘back’ at West Ham on loan from his parent club Manchester City. Even though just about every supporter will be aware of his roots, the Hammers web site has set on something of a charm offensive feature to allow the midfielder to remind supporters of his West Ham credentials and lift the lid on his loan move back to West Ham for the season:
“It was a difficult decision to join Manchester City. It always is leaving a club, especially when you’ve got so much love for it, the same way I do for West Ham.
It was never actually like an intention of mine or I never openly wanted to leave the Club, but I think you have just got to make some decisions for your career sometimes.
I’m happy to be back anyway…
I learned so much from being with Pep and the players as well, so it was really good.”
‘Never fall in love with a loan player ‘is the oft-parroted phrase which is particularly true in terms of Mukasa, who is more than likely to head off back to the blue side of Manchester come May of next year, however successful he is in a West Ham shirt.
The young man makes it clear in his language that he still harbours ambition to play at the very top: This season is unlikely to usher in a permanent return to his boyhood club, however romantic a notion:
“One hundred per cent I want to play at the highest level that I can and I think going out on loan and testing yourself and trying to show what you can do is one of the best ways of getting there because, for me, the most important thing is to play football.
For me, there’s nothing better than playing regular football, so that’s a part of why I choose to go out instead of just staying where it’s comfortable, maybe.”
However, West Ham supporters will still harbour the dream that “playing at the highest level” might – just – possibly open the debate about him ‘rejoining’ if The Irons do get themselves promoted this season: In the meantime, just enjoy the journey and appreciate the efforts of a young man surely destined for greatness.
Agreed MT, it’s early days yet, though his talent is very evident.
If former Hammers coach, Maresca is mandated to deliver silverware by Citeh! Mukasa’s pathway may well be blocked for regular first team football.
I can see the opportunity for another loan spell beyond this season, and potentially beyond that even.
Two things from this article jump out at me;
1. “I learned so much from being with Pep” Well Pep has gone and his replacement is paying £86m for an 18 year old midfielder. Maybe Maresca is not such a big fan of Mukasa?
2. “For me there is nothing better than playing regular football” Re point 1. above that may not happen at City, help get us promoted and he could be playing regular football here and at the highest level.