Norwegian scout tracks Niyonzima

Haruna Niyonzima may not have produced his best form going into today’s final but his skills have caught the attention of Norway-based scout Azzedine Saoud.

Friday, December 21, 2007

Haruna Niyonzima may not have produced his best form going into today’s final but his skills have caught the attention of Norway-based scout Azzedine Saoud.

The Gran Canaria Football Center Marketing Manager, Azzedine told Times Sport on Thursday that the APR starlet is one of the players who have impressed him.

Azzedine is a marketing manager working for Gran Canaria Football Center which does scouting African players for various European clubs.

He said, "I am here on request from different European clubs that are targeting young players from this region before the end of next April.

"So far, I have been impressed by Haruna and Ugandan striker Caesar Okuti, now I need two more players, probably from Tanzania and Kenya to finalize my mission,” said Azzedine.

He added, "I will get two good players from Tanzania and Kenya before the end of this week. The four will be monitored for one month before taking them for a training camp in Spain to undergo trials.”

Niyonzima, still only19, has impressed several European scouts including some from the world football governing body, Fifa.

An England born Fifa agent whose identity could not be disclosed, recently sent local scouts to talk to the youngster but the Rwandan international could not confirm how far that deal has reached because he had not talked to the real man in charge.

However, the former Rayon Sport star is confident that his football skills will at a certain time in future, sooner or later earn him a stint at the professional level.

Ends