Dominique Malonga says that he was overwhelmed by the send-off he received from the Hibs’ supporters at the end of Saturday’s Edinburgh Derby.
The Hibs’ supporters, packed into the Roseburn Stand, chanted the striker’s name after the full-time whistle and he says that gesture touched him.
Malonga told Hibs’ TV: “I want to thank our fans because when the game finished they applauded me – that was brilliant and I hope that we win many games.
“When I come back I hope we are higher up in the Championship table, that we keep going and winning games.
“I feel sorry for the fans and I’m really disappointed because I thought we deserved to win the game on Saturday.
“But looking ahead I’m confident because our mentality is good and I really hope we keep going like this because we’re a good team, who can win every game.
“Now I go to Africa for my experience with my country.”
Malonga flew out to his home city of Paris on Sunday before heading to Senegal where he will join up with the Congo squad a for a pre-tournament friendly against Cape Verde at Léopold Sédar Senghor Stadium in Dakar on 10 January.
Then the 25-year-old will head back with Claude Le Roy’s squad to Congo before flying out to participate in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations Finals where the Red Devils will face Equatorial Guinea in Estadio de Bata on 17 January.
Malonga, whose parents are Congolese, admits he is excited about participating in the competition.
He added: “It’s a good opportunity for Congo and my first big competition – I go to enjoy my time in Africa.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
