Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>During the 2012\/13 season, a 20-year-old Rwandan defender Salomon Nirisarike made headlines when Belgian side Royal Antwerp paid Isonga FC \u20ac75,000 (over Rwf70,000,000) to secure his services.<\/p>\nIt was a major breakthrough for Nirisarike who had shown his football prowess in the domestic league at such a young age, hence attracting various interests from a host of foreign clubs.<\/p>\n
Nirisarike was the youngster that every ambitious club could have wished to have in their fold. He was a naturally-gifted centre back with great defensive abilities. He could also pop up and score some crucial goals when it mattered most.<\/p>\n
Salomon Nirisarike, the Rubavu-born player made an instant impact in Belgium, playing an integral part of the Royal Antwerp team.<\/p>\n
The Rubavu-born player made an instant impact in Belgium, playing an integral part of the Royal Antwerp team in the country’s second tier league where he had two successful seasons.<\/p>\n
Nirisarike made 37 starts in In 44 appearances, scoring three goals and went on to become transfer target of a host of Belgian topflight teams.<\/p>\n
Royal Antwerp were keen on extending his deal but he had already decided to move to Sint Truidense in the Jupiler Pro League as a free agent as he was looking to embark on a new career challenge elsewhere.<\/p>\n
He went on to make 18 league appearances providing one assist.<\/p>\n
He moved to Tubize where he enjoyed another fantastic two seasons during which he played 92 league games, scoring four goals and providing four assists.<\/p>\n
His contract with Tubize expired on June 30, 2019 and he moved to Armenia to try something new out of Belgium.<\/p>\n
Sadly, his three-year stay in the country where he played for Pyunik Yerevan and FC Urartu was not a successful one.<\/p>\n
Nirisarike was released by Urartu in June 2022 as they sought to get rid of the majority of their foreign players. Rwanda international spent an entire season now without a team and lack of club football has since seen him lose his place in the national team.<\/p>\n
His situation is getting from bad to worse considering the fact that he is in his 30’s and the more he becomes inactive, the higher the chance of not getting a team.<\/p>\n
In January, an Iraqi Premier League reportedly offered to sign him but he is said to have turned down the offer as he continues to stay with his family in Belgium.<\/p>\n
From how brightly Nirisarike started his European adventure, one could have wished to see him playing for a bigger club from a European Big Five league. But, since leaving Belgium, the guardsman has seen a sharp decline in his career and he is now even struggling to get a team.<\/p>\n
Not in Ferrer\u2019s plans<\/p>\n
Nirisarike was once an irreplaceable player in Amavubi defense. In his prime, he was every coach\u2019s first choice defender waiting for who would partner him.<\/p>\n
His leadership, incredible ball clearances and aerials would position him to always be the coach\u2019s favorite.<\/p>\n
But since, it has not become the case ever since he struggled for club football. Carlos Ferrer overlooked him, replacing him with Thierry Manzi.<\/p>\n
However, Nirisarike\u2019s services have still been missed and his absence affected Rwanda defensively during the country\u2019s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers especially when Ferrer\u2019s side lost 2-0 at home to Mozambique at Huye Stadium.<\/p>\n
The 2026 World Cup qualifiers start in November and Rwanda needs foreign-based players to be in their prime ahead of the task.<\/p>\n
After a year without a national team call up, Nirisarike should get a team at an appreciable level and start praying, that way he will reclaim his place given how much Ferrer wants to reinforce his central defense.<\/p>\n
Despite his excellent start to European football, the centre back has been a pale shadow of himself in the last couple of years and, at 30, he should consider a switch to the Gulf Arab leagues namely Saudi Arabia, Qatar or United Arab Emirates where can get adequate playing time.<\/p>\n
Or, better still, he can opt for either local powerhouses APR or Rayon Sports who will be playing African club football competitions next season.<\/p>\n
For More News And Analysis About Rwanda<\/a> Follow Africa-Press<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Edmund Okai Gyimah Africa-Press – Rwanda. During the 2012\/13 season, a 20-year-old Rwandan defender Salomon Nirisarike made headlines when Belgian side Royal Antwerp paid Isonga FC \u20ac75,000 (over Rwf70,000,000) to secure his services. It was a major breakthrough for Nirisarike who had shown his football prowess in the domestic league at such a young age, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":46811,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,18],"tags":[760,763,758],"class_list":["post-46812","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-sport","tag-africa-press","tag-africa-press-rwanda","tag-rwanda"],"yoast_head":"\n
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