Amavubi skipper and AS Kigali midfielder Haruna Niyonzima has confirmed that talks have reached an advanced stage with his former club Young Africans for a possible move this month. The playmaker that he was approached by the Tanzania giants, a side he played from 2011 before ending his glorious spell in 2017 to join local rivals Simba SC. Regarded as one of the most decorated players in the region, Haruna made history in June as he became the first player to win the Tanzania Premier League title five consecutive seasons, having won it three times in a row with Young Africans, between 2015 and 2017, before helping Simba SC to lift the title for the 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 seasons. I held talks with Young Africans, but we have not finalised everything yet,” he told Saturday Sport on Friday. Asked about his current club, AS Kigali, whom he joined in July after eight years in Tanzania, the former APR and Rayon Sports star said, “They are aware and fully informed about the ongoing talks. When I signed in July, it was on condition that they would not block me if I get offers outside the country.” However, the 31-year old insists that the move back to Tanzania is ‘not in any way’ influenced by AS Kigali’s current slump where they have only managed two wins after 14 matches into the 2019/2020 Rwanda Premier League. I am still a player of AS Kigali until the deal is done. It is true that we have not had a good start to the season, but it has nothing to do with my talks with Young Africans.” Haruna started his football career with Etincelles before he was spotted and signed by Rayon Sports in 2006. He joined archrivals APR the following year where he played for three-and-a-half years prior to his 2011 move to Young Africans in 2011.
