As the new coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Jose Peseiro settles down to his position, a timely reminder has been sent his way by the former scout of Dutch Eredivisie side Heerenveen.
The ex head of Scouting Karel Brandsma who is now retired was pivotal in the club scouting and recruiting several players who ended up becoming a strong part of the team. Some were sold for a tidy profit.
Among the players is Nigerian winger Chidera Ejuke who according to Brandsma ranks among one of his best discoveries during his time as scout at the club. He detailed how he first sighted the Nigerian who was sold to CSKA Moscow after just a year at the club.
“Peter Maas and I saw Ejuke play football in Norway, with Valerenga. We both thought the same: this is it! Ejuke was an expensive purchase for us. But he was so special. Just before he signed with us, big clubs came in between, where Ejuke could earn much more. That was very exciting,” Brandsma looks back in the Leeuwarder Courant .
. “Ejuke and his agent kept their word. He came to Heerenveen. A very special boy, who we sold to CSKA Moscow after an unusual poker game. Everything was right with him, from the very first time we saw him and his arrival at Heerenveen until the season that he played with us and got sold”, he said.
His words will no doubt catch the attention of Peseiro who hasn’t included the winger in any of his squad. He recently moved to German side Hertha Berlin after suspending his contract with Russian side CSKA Moscow.
