Kalala confident of happy return

Reporter: Athletic by TONY BUGBY
Date online: 02 October 2009

JEAN-PAUL Kalala will be among a contingent of ex-Athletic players returning to Boundary Park tomorrow on a mission to end their former club’s winning run.

The Yeovil side is likely to include Kalala, Craig Davies and Terrell Forbes, while a fourth former Athletic player, Stefan Stam, is ruled out through injury.

Kalala said: “Obviously, as former Latics players we all want to give good performances on our return to Boundary Park to try to win three points.”

Former Congo international Kalala admitted he has a point to prove.

He said: “Unfortunately, things did not work out for me at Oldham. Sometimes that happens in football.

“I need to be on top of my fitness to be able to dominate teams on the pitch.

“Unfortunately, I had a lot of injuries and was never fully fit during my time at Oldham.

“That is probably why things did not work out though it is no secret that I did not get on well with the manager (John Sheridan).

“I want to show the people of Oldham that I am a good player because I am sure there are some who do not believe that to be the case.”

Kalala, who has been a regular in the Glovers team, is under pressure to deliver on the pitch as his contract expires at the end of the year.

He is back at the club he helped to reach the League One play-off final in 2006/07 when Yeovil were beaten by Blackpool at Wembley.

“I had a great first spell and I could not turn down the chance to go back and work with manager Terry Skiverton, who was a team-mate the first time I was at the club,” he said.

Kalala is encouraged by the Glovers’ recent form. During the last week they have beaten Brentford 2-0 at Huish Park and also been involved in a goalless draw at Millwall.

And Yeovil were unlucky not to come away from the New Den with three points having twice been denied by the woodwork.

Although Yeovil are two thirds of the way down the League One table, Kalala believes they have the ability to keep clear of danger.

He said: “Our form has picked up and even before that our performances were not far off the mark as we were passing the ball well and playing some good football.

“It was just small details like lapses of concentration in tight games and being unfortunate in losing players through injury and sendings-off.

“We seem to have got over those problems and our results have improved. We will be going to Oldham full of confidence.”

Even though Kalala’s time with Athletic was not the happiest chapter in his career, he still keeps up to date with what is happening at Boundary Park.

He notes the summer of great change following his departure and that Sean Gregan, Chris Taylor, Reuben Hazell, Danny Whitaker and Kelvin Lomax are the only senior players remaining.

“I got on well with all of them and it will be a pleasure to see people I like,” he said.

FIXTURES

TOMORROW - Brentford v Swindon, Brighton v MK Dons, Colchester v Huddersfield, Exeter v Hartlepool, Leeds v Charlton, Millwall v Tranmere, Norwich v Bristol Rovers, Athletic v Yeovil, Southampton v Gillingham, Stockport v Southend, Walsall v Carlisle, Wycombe v Leyton Orient.