Jocelin Ta Bi marked a memorable milestone in his young career after making his Sunderland debut in the fourth round of the Emirates FA Cup against Oxford United.
The 21-year-old Ivorian, who joined the Black Cats permanently during the January transfer window, came on as a second-half substitute with Sunderland holding a slender 1-0 lead.
Despite the limited minutes, Ta Bi made his presence felt with his pace, trickery, and attacking intent, almost capping his first appearance with a debut goal that narrowly missed the post.
“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 for one chance but it’s okay. Those are things for me to work on.”
The winger also got his first taste of Sunderland’s travelling support, with over 1,000 fans watching from the Kassam Stadium. Ta Bi was impressed by the passionate backing.
“The fans are very passionate. The supporters are very good. We felt the love from them,” he added, reflecting on the positive atmosphere that greeted his debut.
After a period of rehabilitation following injury earlier in the season, Sunday’s match represented more than just an appearance; it was a personal landmark and a symbol of progress in his fledgling Sunderland career. The Ivorian winger now hopes this performance is the first of many.
Ta Bi also revealed a sentimental plan to preserve the moment: he intends to frame the shirt from his debut and hang it on his wall at home.
“I will put the shirt in my apartment. I will frame it and put it on the wall,” he said, underlining how much the occasion means to him.
