After an impressive run at the recent Cosafa Cup in South Africa, promising Namibian striker Buthuel Muzeu has secured a deal with South African First Division side Black Leopards.
His agent Olsen Kahiriri confirmed the deal yesterday, saying the duration of the contract is one year, with an option of extending it, given they get promoted to the top-flight league next season.
He added they agreed to sign the contract, as they do not want to give him pressure by signing for a Premier Soccer League team.
“We decided to first introduce him and his skills to professional football by signing for a first division team. This will also ease up pressure on him and give him a chance to work his way up to the top,” said Kahiriri.
Muzeu (22), in only his second match for the national team, scored the Brave Warriors’ only goal in the semi-finals against Mozambique on 15 July to guide Namibia into the final of the 2022 Cosafa Cup, where they lost against Zambia.
A few days earlier, he registered his first goal as a Brave Warrior in the quarter-final against Madagascar.
On his overall reaction, Kahiriri said the player was excited when he learned he would play for Black Leopards.
“He is in high spirits and confident when I spoke to him. He can’t wait to start the new season with Black Leopards. It’s a great move for him, given the fact there isn’t active football in this country, so we don’t want to waste his talent,” he added.
The Omaheke-born Muzeu previously played for Tura Magic, Tom and Jerry as well as Kasaona FA in the Hopsol League.
Former Brave Gladiators’ coach Woody Jacobs praised Muzeu for his prowess during the Cosafa Cup, saying he showed he deserved a place in the team and wished for him to play regularly at club level.
Muzeu represented his native Omaheke region in the 2018 Namibian Newspaper Cup.
Playing for Kasaona FA, he was the top scorer of the 2022 Ramblers-Bank Windhoek U21 inaugural tournament, which they went on to win.
Muzeu represented Namibia at the youth level in the 2019 Africa U/20 Cup of Nations qualification.
He scored in the 1-all second-leg draw with Botswana.
However, Namibia was eliminated on away goals.
Other Namibian players who have played for Black Leopards include, Brave Warriors midfield maestro Congo Hindjou, Quinton Jacobs, Costa Khaiseb, Hartman Toromba, Ephraim Tjihonge and Chris Katjiukua.
– mkambukwe@nepc.com.na