Friday 10 October 2014 10:16, UK
Ibra Sekajja has worked with Wilfried Zaha and Edgar Davids, but knows he has to prove himself all over again at Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
The 21-year-old striker has moved to Scotland as a free agent following his release by Crystal Palace.
He was unable to fulfil his potential at Selhurst Park, despite playing alongside some household names for club and country, and is aware of the need to hit the ground running at new employers.
Sekajja has been handed a short-term deal through to the turn of the year and will need to impress early on if he is to convince boss John Hughes that he is deserving of an extended stay.
The former England youth international told the Daily Record: “It’s a fresh start, a great opportunity to kick on again in my career.
“John Hughes is very down to earth. He is always going to give you a hand. You know you can talk to him. I value that because I was really close to Ian Holloway at Palace. I sometimes had to remind myself he was the gaffer and not just a good friend.
Edgar Davids was also great with me at Barnet – he taught me so much and helped improve my game. He’s been there and done it at the highest level so it was magnificent for a young player.
“At Selhurst Park, the guy who stood out in the youth team was Wilfried Zaha. We were close friends as we were there together from a really young age.
“We came right through the system together and he has had a fantastic career. He got his big move to United, although he’s back at Palace on loan at the moment.
“Edgar Davids was also great with me at Barnet – he taught me so much and helped improve my game. He’s been there and done it at the highest level so it was magnificent for a young player.
“He was player-coach in my time at Barnet so he used to help me in training and during games.
“I’ve been lucky. I joined Palace aged 11, just three years after my family moved from Kampala (Uganda) to London, and their youth academy was out of this world. I also played for England U16s, which was great, alongside the likes of Jack Wilshere and Jonjo Shelvey.
“I wanted to stay in that set-up but I didn’t get enough first team games to keep progressing. I’ve also had a few injuries and, ,of course, I was released in the summer so I had to be mentally strong to keep myself going and stay motivated and positive.
“It was tough leaving Palace and going three months without a club. You do start doubting yourself. But I’m only 21, so it’s up to me to get my career moving onwards and upwards again.
“If I keep my head down, keep doing the right things and listen to what the coaches tell me then good things can come my way.
“I’ve got until January to prove myself. Some people think it’s a lot of pressure but I see it as a big opportunity.
“If I do well in that time, I can get a better contract then if I’d signed straight away, so it’s a great incentive.”
