The next free agent to fall under our microscope is former Swansea goalkeeper Yves Ma-Kalambay.
The next free agent to fall under our microscope is former Swansea goalkeeper Yves Ma-Kalambay
A Belgian-born, Congo international who has taken in spells in Holland, England, Scotland and Wales - Yves Ma-Kalambay has enjoyed a colourful career. His last port of call was Swansea, and he formed part of the squad that helped the Swans secure promotion into the Premier League last season. That achievement does his CV no harm, while time spent on the books of PSV Eindhoven, Chelsea, Watford and Hibernian suggests he is a goalkeeper of considerable ability. Still only 25 years of age, Ma-Kalambay would provide a formidable last line of defence for any club in the market for a reliable and confident shot-stopper.
What happened with Swansea? You seemed set to stay and now you are a free agent.
I had a great time at Swansea, they are great people there and it was an honour to be part of the first Welsh team to be promoted to the Premier League last season. I had a great relationship with the manager. Brendan (Rodgers) told me that they would keep me for next season regardless of whether they were in the Championship or the Premier League, before we got promoted. He told me that he wanted me to sign. Then, during the summer, I had plenty of contact with him and they were telling me that something was going to happen. But sometimes it football it is like that and it wasn't meant to happen.
Is it frustrating, because there were clubs interested and they stopped looking at you when they thought you were going to stay at Swansea?
It was really frustrating. I told myself and everybody else that I hoped to sign for Swansea. I thought there was going to be a contract. Now that I am in this situation, I am looking forward to the future and I believe I will find a club really soon.
Is it worrying now being an out of contract player, with so many in the same position and pre-season already under way?
There are many other players that are out of contract. That is worrying, but I believe in my ability and hopefully there is a club that will need a goalkeeper. I am ready to go. I am fit and ready to get called up any time. It is worrying, but you just have to stay calm and believe in yourself.
How are you approaching the rest of the summer? Are you just trying to stay fit and let your agent find something?
I am lucky that I have a great team of agents looking around. Since I left Swansea, I have been training twice a day - every morning and evening. I am just keeping myself fit and keeping myself ready for another club. That will mean I can go to a club and show what I can do and I won't be too far behind those who have started pre-season. I just need to keep myself fit and wait for the right time.
Do you have an idea as to where you would like to go? Are you looking to play Championship football?
It's funny, Pep Guardiola is about to call me. I am only kidding. I'm a very ambitious player and I want to play at the highest level. But I am realistic and I am prepared to go wherever I can get a game. I want to show what I can do. I'm up for any team. I am just waiting for the right opportunity. In my mind, I want to play at the highest level.
And relocation, I take it, isn't a problem for you?
I am originally from Congo and I was born in Belgium, so I have already had to move quite a few times. I moved from Belgium to Holland, Holland to London, London to Edinburgh and Edinburgh to Swansea. I have moved a lot, so that's not a problem. As a footballer you have to put yourself where the contracts are. That is the gamble you take when you become a football player. It's about finding the right deal and good teams. It's a different challenge and hopefully I will get a new challenge in the next few weeks.
Would you prefer to stay in England or are you looking abroad?
England has the best football in the world and any player would love to play here. But it's about finding the best opportunity for myself. I just want to play games. That's what I am thinking about at the moment.
What do you feel you would bring to any club thinking about snapping up a new goalkeeper?
When I am playing, I am bringing confidence and trust behind my defenders and I will talk to them and encourage them. I am also working on my distribution, because that is very important now and play starts with the goalkeeper. I am also six foot seven inches, so I am a good presence in the air at free-kicks and corners. When I am playing, I am like a nightclub bouncer - I don't let anybody go past!
To see the full list of players currently available as free agents, provided by the PFA, click
here.
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