Riyaad Norodien

Riyaad Norodien (born 26 March 1995) is a South African professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Cape Town City.[3]

Riyaad Norodien
Personal information
Full name Riyaad Norodien[1]
Date of birth (1995-03-26) 26 March 1995
Place of birth Cape Town, South Africa
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)[2]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Cape Town City
Youth career
–2015 Ajax Cape Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 Ajax Cape Town 27 (3)
2016–2017 Orlando Pirates 29 (0)
National team
2015 South Africa U23 3 (0)
2017– South Africa 2 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 5 July 2017

Early career

Born in Kensington, Cape Town, Norodien signed with local club Ajax Cape Town as a youngster. He was named Academy Player of the Year in 2012.[2] In May 2015, he travelled with the Ajax Cape Town U19 team to Germany to compete in the Ergenzingen Tournament, where they were eliminated by Mexican side Guadalajara in the semi-finals.[4] Norodien, however, was named Player of the Tournament, and caught the attention of various European clubs (including AFC Ajax).[2][5]

Professional career

Club career

On 4 April 2015, after a lengthy contract dispute, Norodien finally made his first professional appearance when he featured during a 2–1 loss to Platinum Stars.[6] One month later, he scored his first professional goal, a close-range header, against Moroka Swallows.[7] He followed it up by scoring against Orlando Pirates in the next game on 9 May (also the last game of the season). He received a pass from a goal-kick, juked two defenders and blasted the ball past Brighton Mhlongo for his second career goal.[8] With his help, Ajax CP reached the finals of the 2014–15 Nedbank Cup. After only a month in the league, he had "taken the domestic game by storm," impressing teams both in South Africa and abroad.[9]

International career

Norodien was selected to represent South Africa at the 2015 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations in Senegal, where the top three teams qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics.[10] He played in three games (against Senegal, Zambia and Algeria). South Africa finished in third place overall, qualifying for the Olympic tourney in Rio de Janeiro.

International goals
Scores and results list South Africa's goal tally first.[11]
NoDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.4 July 2017Moruleng Stadium, Moruleng, South Africa Botswana1–02–02017 COSAFA Cup

Honours

Club
Ajax Cape Town

References
  1. "2015 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations - Group A squads" (PDF). cafonline.com. Confederation of African Football. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  2. "Riyaad Norodien: Ajax Cape Town's starlet rising to prominence despite belated debut". O-Posts. 28 June 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  3. Soccerway profile
  4. Crann, Joe (25 May 2015). "Ajax Kids Miss Out on German Final". Soccer Laduma. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  5. Crann, Joe (29 May 2015). "Norodien Wins Gong in Germany". Soccer Laduma. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  6. "Riyaad Norodien vows to improve at Ajax". Kickoff. 4 April 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  7. Mazibuko, Sandile (6 May 2015). "Ajax Cape Town 2–1 Moroka Swallows: Nkoana header gives AmaZulu hope, seals Ajax's top eight berth". Goal.com. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  8. Mazibuko, Sandile (9 May 2015). "Ajax Cape Town 2–2 Orlando Pirates: Bucs fight-back not enough to take them to Africa". Goal.com. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  9. "Stage set for Billiat and Norodien". IOL Sport Zone. 16 May 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  10. "Mobara and Norodien Report For U23 Duty" (Press release). Ajax Cape Town. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  11. "Norodien, Riyaad". National Football Teams. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
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