Emotional First Appearance for the Young Winger
Jocelin Ta Bi marked a significant milestone in his young career by making his debut for Sunderland in the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup against Oxford United. The 21-year-old Ivorian winger came on as a second-half substitute as Régis Le Bris’ side held a 1-0 lead, and he quickly made an impact with his pace and trickery that had the Sunderland fans on their feet.
Ta Bi nearly capped his first appearance in style by coming close to scoring his maiden goal for the club. His powerful shot whistled just wide of the post, leaving him with a small regret but plenty of encouragement for the future. Speaking after the match, he expressed his joy at the occasion.
“It felt good. I was excited to play my first game,” he said. “It was good for me and it was good for the team because we won. I missed the goal by one chance but it’s okay. Those are things for me to work on.”
Support from Fans and Plans for the Shirt
The game also gave Ta Bi his first experience of Sunderland’s passionate travelling support, with over 1,000 Black Cats fans creating a lively atmosphere at the Kassam Stadium. He praised their energy and warmth.
“The fans are very passionate. The supporters are very good. We felt the love from them,” he added.
Ta Bi joined Sunderland on a permanent transfer in the January window but had to overcome a period of rehabilitation from injury before making his breakthrough. Now that he has earned his first minutes in a Sunderland shirt, he sees this as the beginning of his journey with the club.
To commemorate the moment, Ta Bi revealed his personal plan to preserve the memory. “I will put the shirt in my apartment. I will frame it and put it on the wall,” he explained, highlighting how much the debut means to him at this early stage of his professional career.
The victory keeps Sunderland’s FA Cup run alive, and for Ta Bi, it provides both confidence and a treasured keepsake as he looks to build on this promising start.
