We are happy to confirm the return of Ricardo Dinanga, who will be a Buck again in the 2024/25 season after agreeing terms with the club.
The 22-year-old, who was born in Ireland to parents from Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo, has spent the summer with his family in Cork. He returned to these shores on the day of the Kidderminster fixture, which meant a whirlwind few hours spent getting all of the i’s dotted and the t’s crossed on Ricardo’s new deal.
Bucks fans will be keen to see Ricardo develop further over the coming season. His preseason performances earned him a deal for the 2023/24 season, and he delivered some electrifying moments as both a provider and a scorer.
Kevin Wilkin is similarly eager to see Ricardo kick on and add greater consistency to his undoubted ability. His pursuit of ‘Ricky’, as he is known to his Bucks colleagues, has been a long one, but one that Kevin believes will be worthwhile:
“Yeah, we wanted to reengage Ricardo, and the negotiation has been a little bit more protracted than we would see as ideal, but he’s back here now, and I think he’s eager to get his season underway. Hopefully, he can build on what he showed us last season. He came up with some big moments for us, scoring a good few goals and some important goals for us.”
Ricardo is a likeable presence in the Bucks’ dressing room, and adding a touch more ruthlessness on the field is now the aim:
“Hopefully, he’s making progress and moving forward in his career; he’s still a young man, but he showed glimpses tonight of what he’s capable of. It’s a delight to have him back around. He’ll add something to our firepower and can hopefully build on what he did last season.”
Kevin Wilkin’s desire to involve Ricardo in our preseason fixture against Kidderminster Harriers meant that his return didn’t receive the usual fanfare; however, we’re confident that won’t be held against us, especially as it gave Ricardo some valuable minutes when coming on as a second-half substitute.
As for Ricky himself, with a beaming smile, he revealed that his family time hasn’t all been about relaxation:
“Yeah, I had some time with the family, but I was trying to bulk up too. I didn’t go on any holidays; I just stayed at home and did my training with my brother. That was the main thing – sometimes you’ve just gotta make those sacrifices.”
Whilst confessing that it’s not easy being away from his family in Southern Ireland, when it comes to football, the Bucks are providing him with a home away from home:
“Yeah, of course, I missed the family and stuff. I couldn’t go home and join them in December, so those can be tough times, and so it was so good to see them for a bit, but I’m happy to be here (Telford) – it feels like home here. Everyone welcomed me from the first moment I arrived, so it only made sense to return.”
Ricky also hinted at another motivation for the season:
“We want to kick on and hopefully get promoted as well. I was straight into it today, which I didn’t expect, but I got twenty or twenty minutes, and it felt good, obviously playing at home.”
Welcome back, Ricardo!
