Burundi man is costliest player in Kenya league

• Ex-Rayon Sports striker valued at Sh1.3m could debut for AFC this week if clubs complete deal

Burundi international Floribert Ndayisaba is set to become the most expensive player in the Kenyan Premier League history this week when AFC Leopards complete a $15,000 (about Sh1.3 million) purchase of him from Rwandese club Rayon Sports.

Leopards organising secretary Timothy Lilumbi said on Tuesday they had already paid $10,000 (about Sh840,000) and expected to clear the balance this week in time for the midfielder to make is much-anticipated league debut against Karuturi Sports in Mumias on Saturday.

“This has been a very complicated acquisition but we are glad it is almost behind us. If all goes well this player will feature for us in our next league match,” Lilumbi said.

His price tag, when paid for, easily surpasses the Sh500,000 Gor Mahia parted with to secure the services of Dan Sserunkuma from Nairobi City Stars last month.

Incidentally, until then the most expensive player in the league was AFC Leopards’ defender Eric Masika bought from Gor Mahia for Sh450,000.

Leopards’ officials have been quiet over the transfer of Ndayisaba after complications arose over who were his releasing club. The Burundian was owned by his home side Vital’O but hs been on loan at Rayon Club.

Leopards initially sent an international transfer certificate request to Vital’O and the Burundi football body before making a similar request to the Rwanda football association on June 30, hours before the KPL transfer window closed.

“Leopards fulfilled Fifa requirements on international transfers by placing their request to the releasing club before the deadline. The releasing club has up to seven days to respond,” Nick Mwendwa who is consulting with FKF on Fifa’s Transfer Matching System said on Tuesday.

Mwendwa said that a player can subsequently be registered after the transfer deadline so long as his transfer application had been lodged within the window.

Interestingly, should a club not respond to a transfer application within 30 days, the engaging club can have the player provisionally registered.

Lilumbi said complications arose over the purchase price of the player and mode of payment but everything had been sorted out.
The Burundian travelled with AFC to Mumias for their weekend assignment. AFC’s top striker Allan Wanga, who played alongside Ndayisaba for Azerbaijan top league side FK Baku in 2010 was full of praise for the Burundian.

“I have known him for three years now. He is skillful, intelligent and composed, a good midfielder who can score goals. He will be a good addition to the team,” Wanga said.

Ndayisaba will join Paul Were (formerly of Tusker) and Tanzanian Idriss Rajab (formerly of Sofapaka) as Leopards second leg acquisitions.