Karekezi completes Bizerte move

AMAVUBI Stars skipper Olivier Karekezi last night completed his move to Tunisia’s Premier league club Bizerte FC.

Friday, November 09, 2012
FAMILIAR FACE: Olivier Karekezi is seen here in action for APR against Tunisian side Etoile du Sahel in CAF Champions League first round last season. The New Times/File.

AMAVUBI Stars skipper Olivier Karekezi last night completed his move to Tunisia’s Premier league club Bizerte FC. The 29-year-old forward, who signed a two-year deal, left Kigali on Thursday in the company of his 7-year-old son Luccin Karekezi."I am happy to join such a big club, it will be a big challenge for me and I hope to contribute something as the team pushes for honors,” he told Times Sport before his departure.He added, "The Tunisian league is among the leading leagues in Africa and while it is a whole new challenge for me, I am totally focused and ready for it,” he said.The new Tunisia league is scheduled to kick off this weekend but Karekezi will only be eligible to play starting on December 19. Bizertin has won the Tunisian League four times.Bizerte FC will feature in next year’s CAF Orange Champions League, having finished second to Espérance de Tunis in the Tunisian league last season, and Karekezi is relishing the opportunity to compete in Africa’s biggest club competition.Karekezi’s career started in APR back in 2002 before he left to join Sweden’s top division club Helsingborgs IF in 2005.He scored five goals in 18 matches during the 2005 season. In 2006, he scored 11 goals for Helsingborg, becoming the top scorer in Allsvenskan.In January 2008, Karekezi moved to Norway league side Hamarkameratene. In March 2010, he returned to Sweden and played for second division club Östers IF for two years.In Tunisia, Karekezi joins Amavubi team-mate striker Meddie Kagere, who signed a two-year contract with Premier League club Esperance Sportive de Zarzis.