Yanga coughed $50,000 for Haruna

TANZANIA Vodacom Premier league giants had to pay $50,000 [Rwf. 32 million] to lure Amavubi assistant skipper Haruna Niyonzima to pen a two-year contract extension with the Jangwani side last week.

Friday, May 31, 2013
Haruna Niyonzima in action for Amavubi in a friendly match against Libya in March. The New Times / T. Kisambira

TANZANIA Vodacom Premier league giants had to pay $50,000 [Rwf. 32 million] to lure Amavubi assistant skipper Haruna Niyonzima to pen a two-year contract extension with the Jangwani side last week.The 23-year old helped Yanga clinch their 24th Vodacom Tanzania Premier League title after a well fought 2-0 win over arch rivals Simba SC mid this month. Yanga FC finished the league with 60 points after 26 matches, Azam coming in second with 54 points. Besides the hefty recruitment fee, Yanga enticed Haruna with an attractive monthly salary worth $3,000 (Rwf.1.9 million), beating rivals Simba who had staked $40,000 to snatch the former APR starlet. The club chairman Abdallah Bin Kleb pledged to offer the Rwandan further increments which include a boat registration and other bonuses which will all amount to $70,000 worth of recruitment.Haruna who is in Amavubi camp preparing for next month’s 2014 World Cup qualifier said, "I have decided to sign another new deal with Yanga and promise to serve with all my power. My mind is now focused on winning the upcoming Cecafa/Kagame club championship in Sudan.”The former APR and Rayon Sport midfielder joined Yanga two years ago in a two-year deal worth US$30,000 as a signing on fee and a monthly salary of US$1500.