Haruna to quit Yanga for El-Merreikh

Amavubi Stars captain Haruna Niyonzima has confirmed he is prepared to quit Tanzanian league giants Yanga, a club he joined in 2010 from APR with six months left on his contract.

Friday, November 30, 2012
Haruna Niyonzima joined Yanga in 2010 from APR. Net photo.

Amavubi Stars captain Haruna Niyonzima has confirmed he is prepared to quit Tanzanian league giants Yanga, a club he joined in 2010 from APR with six months left on his contract.Speaking to Times Sport in an exclusive interview at Amavubi hotel at the ongoing Cecafa Challenge Cup in Kampala, Haruna said, "I have six months still remaining on my contract with Yanga. However, Sudanese club El Merreikh and another club from Belgium (unidentified) have shown interest in me.” "El Merreikh have already contacted my manager expressing their interest, but I am still a Yanga player and for any deal, they need to talk to my current club, after that we can start on personal terms,” the former Etincelles and Rayon Sport midfielder revealed."I am waiting for the two clubs to talk, so hopefully I will be able to know everything after the Cecafa tournament. But the fact is, am leaving Yanga when my contract expires,” stated Haruna.Yanga officials have put a $150,000 (approx. 94.5 million) price tag on the Rwandan international after El Merreikh made initial inquires.El Merreikh is yet to respond but they are interested in a multitalented midfielder of Haruna’s caliber.Haruna joined Yanga two years ago in a two year deal worth $30.000 (about Rwf 17m) as a signing on fee and a monthly salary of USD 1500 (Rwf0.95m)El-Merreikh is one of the oldest football clubs in Africa which has won the Sudanese Premier League title 18 times. Haruna will be the third Rwandan footballer to play in El Merreikh after striker Jean Lomami and Alou Gaseruka, who featured for the club in recent years.Last month, Al-Merreikh was knocked out in the semi-final of the Caf Orange Confederation Cup by Congo Brazzaville’s Leopards.