Inverness Caledonian Thistle goalkeeper Musa Dibaga talks about his first season as a professional football player since joining the club this summer
MUSA Dibaga says he has adapted well to becoming a professional footballer since joining Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
The highest level of football the goalkeeper had experienced previously was in the Lowland League with his previous club Bo’ness United. He also played in the East of Scotland League with Whitehill Welfare.
But he was spotted in the summer by Inverness Caledonian Thistle, before administration and while Duncan Ferguson was still manager. He was offered a professional contract and originally meant as back up to Jack Newman who was on loan from Dundee United.
But he took his chance after Newman was injured and put on the gloves to become the club’s first choice goalkeeper. With Newman’s loan deal terminated after Caley Thistle went into administration in October, Dibaga became the undisputed number one choice.
Now he is enjoying the opportunity of playing as a professional footballer.
Speaking about being spotted by Caley Thistle, Dibaga said: “It was through my agent, they spoke with the gaffer and they told me to come for a trial. I stayed for a week then came back the next week and signed the following week.
“My life has changed a lot, I was used to training twice a week, now I am training every day and playing the weekend. At first it was challenging as my body had to adapt. But I feel good now.
“I played in the East of Scotland League and played in the amateurs and in the Lowland League. Coming up here you feel the rhythm is different. You can’t make mistakes as they will punish you. But I feel like I was ready since the first moment. I am fit to play in this league.”
Dibaga played youth football in Spain but has only experienced playing at senior level since arriving in Scotland.
He says while football styles are different between the two countries, he enjoys playing in the Scottish game.
He said: "I have played more in Scottish football than in Spain because I started quite late. When I played in Spain, it was only academy football.
"I like the football here. It is very quick and direct. You also have players with quality, which is amazing.
"Football in Spain is more tactical, but I love the more direct football and it being physical.”
Inverness Caledonian Thistle are not in action on Saturday after their match against Stenhousemuir was postponed due to a frozen pitch at the Caledonian Stadium this afternoon.
Dibaga is confident that Inverness can finish above the bottom two by the end of the regular season.
He said: "We are focused on getting three points in every game. That's our main goal.
"As long as you get three points, you're going to keep moving forward. That's our mentality.
"We want to finish as high as we can in the league, knowing we have given everything we possibly could have, considering the 15-point deduction.
"If we can stay in the league, or even go for promotion, that would be the best feeling we could get.”
