“A very special boy” – Retired Dutch scout names Super Eagles star as most exciting discovery

Karel Brandsma has retired from his position because the scouting chief at Heerenveen, however he nonetheless has fond reminiscences of certainly one of his most important discoveries

Heerenveen’s Strategic Adviser Karel Brandsma has hailed Nigerian winger Chidera Ejuke as one of many best gems he found as head of the Dutch membership’s head of scouting.

Brandsma was a scout at Heerenveen since 1989 and have become the membership’s chief scout in 2014, a place he held till final August.

And having watched tens of 1000’s of matches, dealt with tons of of soccer gamers, and managed tens of tens of millions of euros, Brandsma isn’t a person to be simply impressed.

However the 54-year-old admits he couldn’t consider his eyes on the uncooked expertise on show the primary time he set his eyes on Tremendous Eagles star Chidera Ejuke.

Ejuke was in Norway with Valerenga then and would finally price Heerenveen a princely two million euros. However Brandsma had feeling in regards to the teenager from the off and went along with his hunch.

“Peter Maas and I noticed Ejuke play soccer in Norway with Valerenga,” Brandsma informed Leeuwarder Courant.

“We each thought the identical: that is it! Ejuke was an costly buy for us. However he was so particular.”

Brandsma is as impressed with Ejuke’s technical high quality as his persona. Near becoming a member of Heerenveen, different notable golf equipment tried to hijack the deal, however the Nigerian teenager stored his promise to signal for the Eredivisie facet.

“Simply earlier than he signed with us, huge golf equipment got here in between, the place Ejuke may earn way more. That was very thrilling. Ejuke and his agent stored their phrase. He got here to Heerenveen,” Brandsma added.

In only one season within the Netherlands, Ejuke confirmed that Brandsma made the fitting name.

The 24-year-old contributed 9 objectives, 4 assists, and a number of other magical moments in 25 Eredivisie video games. The ‘Nigerian Iniesta‘ was even among the many greatest dribblers within the Dutch high flight.

CSKA Moscow had been satisfied of Ejuke’s expertise, and the Russian giants paid Heerenveen virtually €12 million in 2020 for his signature.

It’s a deal that also offers Brandsma the thrills.

The veteran scout mentioned of Ejuke and his transfer to Russia: “A really particular boy, who we offered to CSKA Moscow after an uncommon poker recreation.

“All the things was proper with him, from the very first time we noticed him and his arrival at Heerenveen till the season that he performed with us and the sale.”

After two years in Russia, Ejuke has earned a controversial mortgage change to Hertha Berlin within the German Bundesliga.