Riyaad Norodien
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 26 March 1995 | ||
| Place of birth | Cape Town, South Africa | ||
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Team 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) |
| International career | |||
| 2015 | South Africa U23 | 3 | (0) |
| 2017– | South Africa | 2 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 5 July 2017 | |||
Riyaad Norodien (born 26 March 1995) is a South African professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Cape Town City.[2]
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.[1] 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.[3] Norodien, however, was named Player of the Tournament, and caught the attention of various European clubs (including AFC Ajax).[1][4]
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.[5] One month later, he scored his first professional goal, a close-range header, against Moroka Swallows.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8]
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.[9] 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.[10]
| No | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 4 July 2017 | Moruleng Stadium, Moruleng, South Africa |  Botswana |
1–0 | 2–0 | 2017 COSAFA Cup |
Honours
Club
- Ajax Cape Town
- Nedbank Cup: Runner-up 2014–15
- MTN 8 Cup: 2015
References
- ^ a b c "Riyaad Norodien: Ajax Cape Town's starlet rising to prominence despite belated debut". O-Posts. 28 June 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
- ^ Soccerway profile
- ^ Crann, Joe (25 May 2015). "Ajax Kids Miss Out on German Final". Soccer Laduma. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
- ^ Crann, Joe (29 May 2015). "Norodien Wins Gong in Germany". Soccer Laduma. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
- ^ "Riyaad Norodien vows to improve at Ajax". Kickoff. 4 April 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Stage set for Billiat and Norodien". IOL Sport Zone. 16 May 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
- ^ "Mobara and Norodien Report For U23 Duty" (Press release). Ajax Cape Town. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
- ^ "Norodien, Riyaad". National Football Teams. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
