Niyonzima waits for new BDF XI contract

CHIPPA LEGODIMO
Correspondent | Friday August 13, 2010 00:00

The muscular Burundian goalkeeper said he is ready to join another club if negotiations with BDF XI fail.

Niyonzima has given the club his terms and he is still waiting for a response though he is training with the team.

'I am not worried that the transfer window is closing. This is how things are done in local football. If it was in another country, the negotiations could have started a long time but it is not the case here. It is up to them (BDF XI) if they still believe I can do the job but obviously, the honourable thing would be to tell me in time if I will not be needed,' Niyonzima said.

The return of Zebras first choice goalkeeper, Modiri Marumo to the team could spell doom for the former Prisons XI man but he is not worried. He believes if coach Losika 'Six' Keatlholetswe gives him a fair chance, he could still carry on as the team's first choice. 'His return means competition for that single spot will be stiff but I trust myself and I was born a fighter and it does not matter who I am up against. I know sometimes it can be difficult as a foreigner and Marumo is a national team keeper and that alone could put the coach under pressure to use him more frequently to give him more game time. But I trust that 'Six' would base his selections on merit than anything. It is for the good of BDF XI and not any individual,' he said.

The 26-year-old player has conceded that he does not expect any sudden turn-around in the team's fortunes this season. BDF XI were a disappointment last season failing to make it to the top four. Niyonzima said their weakest link was the strike force and that since no new players have been registered to beef up that department, people should not expect much.

'We win and lose as a team but obviously if the strikers are hitting the net and the defence and the goalkeeper concede on the other end, you could say there is a problem with the defence. But last season, we did not score a lot of goals while we conceded only a few and it simply means the forwards were not doing the job. Maybe a surprise is still coming but if our strikers' performance is anything to go by, then there would be no sparks in front of goal,' he said.

However, Niyonzima ruled out the possibility of his team struggling like it did three seasons ago when they only avoided the drop through the promotional play-offs. 'BDF XI is a big team and although our strikers were firing blanks, obviously with the type of players that we have, people cannot expect us to struggle like the small teams.

It is not that I do not respect other teams in the league, but we have to be realistic,' Niyonzima said.