Balde scores

Published on Monday 2 November 2009 22:00

BOBO Balde netted a goal on his first league start for over 18 months then revealed his depression at his Celtic misery.

The defender netted for Valenciennes against his old club Toulouse in a 3-0 win – only the second time he'd ever scored in the French League.

Balde said: "It feels great to be back and score.

"The last time I scored in France was actually for Toulouse – it was my only goal I scored in Ligue 1. Celtic was a difficult part of my life. When you are a footballer, you want to play.

"I just wanted to get to the end of my contract and I trained alone with a physio.

"That meant I remained fit enough and I passed all the tests when Valenciennes wanted to sign me."

The veteran defender was frozen out at Parkhead and last started a game at the end of Celtic's title-winning season in 2008. He finally left Celtic in the summer and it took him until last month to fix himself up with a new club when he signed for French outfit Valenciennes.