Ex-SA and United star Fortune to visit Rwanda

Former South Africa and Manchester United player, Quinton Fortune, is set to visit Rwanda in July for a three-day working visit courtesy of DHL. He will be in the country from July 15, 16, and 17 to inspire the young players.

Friday, June 21, 2013
Former Bafana midfielder Quinton Fortune. Net photo

Former South Africa and Manchester United player, Quinton Fortune, is set to visit Rwanda in July for a three-day working visit courtesy of DHL. He will be in the country from July 15, 16, and 17 to inspire the young players.Fortune, 36, played for Manchester United, Atletico Madrid and Bolton Wanderers among other top European clubs before he retired in 2010 after being released by English Championship (second division) side Doncaster Rovers.According to DHL-Rwanda officials, his coming to Rwanda is in a bid to build up and create awareness of Rwanda football to the outside world."In the spirit of partnership and as a contribution towards making this a success, and we hope his trip will inspire Rwandans to love DHL and the game of football,” a statement by DHL-Rwanda read in parts.The 36-year-old earned 46 international caps playing for the South Africa, including playing at the 1998 and the 2002 World Cups finals.Fortune left South Africa at the age of 14 and moved to England where he played for the Tottenham Hotspur junior team, but never made a senior appearance for the club. After having trouble obtaining a work permit, Fortune moved to Spain, where he played for Real Mallorca in 1996 before signing for Atlético Madrid the following year.Manchester United purchased him from Atlético Madrid in 1999. He made his first appearance for the club on 30 August 1999, against Newcastle United.Despite playing in three Premiership winning seasons (1999–2000, 2000–01 and 2002–03), Fortune never played the required 10 games to earn a winner’s medal, making 6, 7 and 9 appearances respectively.After being used mostly in a squad rotation basis for his career at Manchester United, he was released by the club ahead of the 2006–07 campaign. In total, Fortune made 126 appearances for United, scoring 10 goals.