Karuru fails at Newcastle United

[Besty 4]

Zimbabwe youth international and 2007 Soccer Star of the Year finalist, Ovidy Karuru’s hopes of sealing a move to Barclays Premiership side Newcastle United have failed.

 

Karuru, 18, a lanky Masvingo United midfielder who has one senior cap, was in England for trials at Newcastle last month after he caught the eyes of the Magpies’ scouts during the Cosafa Under-20 championships in Mpumalanga, South Africa, last in December last year.

 

Newcastle United scouts had initially been sent to look at two unnamed South African midfielders and one from Angola but ended up recommending Karuru.

 

But Masvingo United spokesman, Nathan Asidi said the Under-20 captain has already left St James Park for an undisclosed British football academy.

 

“Yes he had a trial with Newcastle last month but has been released,” said Asidi by telephone from Masvingo yesterday. He is now attached to a football academy in that country and we expect him back early next month.”

 

He could not disclose the name of the academy. Karuru earned his and only first senior cap after Norman Mapeza, then caretaker coach picked him for Zimbabwe’s final 2008 Nations Cup qualifier against

Malawi late last year.

 

He was the pulse of Masvingo United last season, overshadowing his more seasoned teammates like Wonder Sithole who has since moved to Dynamos.

 

Newcastle United had invited the midfield starlet for a two-week trial period at St James Park in January. After initially having problems in obtaining a visa, he later got it and made the trip.

 

Karuru captained the Under-20 team, to win a gold medal at the championship in South Africa and was named Player of the Tournament.

 

But even if he had made the grade at Newcastle United, Karuru was most likely going to face problems getting a work permit because of his limited senior caps.

 

With only one senior cap and Zimbabwe being out of the top 70 of the world’s best soccer playing nations as determined by FIFA, Karuru’s only hope was the special dispensation that the Premiership gives to players with few caps.

 

In part, the regulations governing the issuance of work permits in England for professional footballers state:

 

"Where an application does not meet the published criteria, a club may request a panel to consider the player's skills and experience. --- The panel's terms of reference are - to consider whether the player is of the highest calibre and to consider whether the player is able to contribute significantly to the development of the game at the top level in UK."

[Asprilla 96]

Zimbabwe youth international and 2007 Soccer Star of the Year finalist, Ovidy Karuru’s hopes of sealing a move to Barclays Premiership side Newcastle United have failed.

 

Karuru, 18, a lanky Masvingo United midfielder who has one senior cap, was in England for trials at Newcastle last month after he caught the eyes of the Magpies’ scouts during the Cosafa Under-20 championships in Mpumalanga, South Africa, last in December last year.

 

Newcastle United scouts had initially been sent to look at two unnamed South African midfielders and one from Angola but ended up recommending Karuru.

 

But Masvingo United spokesman, Nathan Asidi said the Under-20 captain has already left St James Park for an undisclosed British football academy.

 

“Yes he had a trial with Newcastle last month but has been released,” said Asidi by telephone from Masvingo yesterday. He is now attached to a football academy in that country and we expect him back early next month.”

 

He could not disclose the name of the academy. Karuru earned his and only first senior cap after Norman Mapeza, then caretaker coach picked him for Zimbabwe’s final 2008 Nations Cup qualifier against

Malawi late last year.

 

He was the pulse of Masvingo United last season, overshadowing his more seasoned teammates like Wonder Sithole who has since moved to Dynamos.

 

Newcastle United had invited the midfield starlet for a two-week trial period at St James Park in January. After initially having problems in obtaining a visa, he later got it and made the trip.

 

Karuru captained the Under-20 team, to win a gold medal at the championship in South Africa and was named Player of the Tournament.

 

But even if he had made the grade at Newcastle United, Karuru was most likely going to face problems getting a work permit because of his limited senior caps.

 

With only one senior cap and Zimbabwe being out of the top 70 of the world’s best soccer playing nations as determined by FIFA, Karuru’s only hope was the special dispensation that the Premiership gives to players with few caps.

 

In part, the regulations governing the issuance of work permits in England for professional footballers state:

 

"Where an application does not meet the published criteria, a club may request a panel to consider the player's skills and experience. --- The panel's terms of reference are - to consider whether the player is of the highest calibre and to consider whether the player is able to contribute significantly to the development of the game at the top level in UK."