Reading Chronicle | Sport | Bikey boost for Royals

Saturday, 10th May, 2008

Published: Tuesday, 11th March, 2008 09:29

Bikey boost for Royals

ANDRE Bikey has broken his silence over his African Cup of Nations nightmare and vowed to concentrate on keeping Reading in the Premier League.

The Cameroon defender’s tournament ended in bizarre fashion when he was sent off in their semi-final win over hosts Ghana for pushing over a medic while team-mate Rigobert Song received treatment.

It meant Bikey was suspended for the final – the biggest match of his career – which Cameroon lost 1-0 to defending champions Egypt.

The 23-year-old said: “It’s not good for me to speak about it. Sometimes things happen and you don’t know why. It was a mistake.

“The television showed only what I did, but if they had shown five minutes earlier people would see why I did it.

“The person (medic) did something wrong. He pushed our club doctor and I reacted.

“I know it was wrong, but I did it and it’s in the past. I will try to forget about it and not speak about it.”

But he conceded: “Missing the final wasn’t easy because you don’t get the chance to play in one every day.

“It would have been my first time in the final and I don’t know if I’ll have another chance in the future, though I hope I do.

“But it’s finished and I am just trying to help Reading stay in the Premiership.”

Bikey’s pain was considerably eased by his recall at Middlesbrough last weekend where he helped keep the team’s first clean sheet since October in a crucial 1-0 victory.

It was only his fifth Premier League start of the season and he suggested: “Every time I go away with the national team I play.

“So maybe the (Reading) manager trusts other players more, maybe I did something wrong.

“Only he knows but he has his reasons. I am a professional player and I respect his decision. I am not happy when he leaves me out but I understand.

“All I can do is give my best when I get an opportunity.”

Bikey is now likely to line up next to centre-back partner Ivar Ingimarsson again this weekend for the visit of Manchester City.

“We are in a difficult situation,” said the former Lokomotiv Moscow star. “We need to win all our home games and get some points away.

“We are not safe but the Middlesbrough victory was important, as was a clean sheet. It can change our mentality. Our team is good enough to stay in the Premiership, especially after the last result.

“It’s true, we’ve lost a lot of games this season but I think we’ll only need around 35 points to stay up.”

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