With the settlement of his contract termination at Kaizer Chiefs having been cleared on the last day of August, Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana has moved on to an improved contract in Libya.
Bimenyimana had a two-year deal with Chiefs that he signed at the beginning of the 2022/23 season, but was then forced to cancel the contract after falling out of favour after his first season.
READ | The plan was to win and not concede
The conditions of termination were that he will be paid out at the end of August which then paved the way for him to complete his move to Libya which has been "cooking in the pot for weeks".
At Chiefs, the Burundian only played thrice (totalling 81 minutes in those three appearances) in the club's last 10 matches of the 2022/23 season, but closed off the campaign with eight goals from 21 appearances.
This meant before the end of last season, the 25-year-old already knew that he was not wanted anymore at Naturena.
Bimenyimana has now secured a deal that will earn him USD300 000 (R5,6 million) per annum at Libyan club Al Ahli Benghazi.
This package includes his monthly salary, signing-on fees, and all other perks that he will get while in the North African country.
The deal was ironed out by Mir Sport Agency Morocco, who were also behind the efforts to get the Burundian to Wydad Casablanca in a deal that ultimately flopped.
Wydad's new coach Adil Ramzi didn't approve of signings made without his input and this led to Bimenyimana's deal not happening despite travelling to Casablanca for an assessment.
In moving to Libya, Bimenyimana will also improve on what he was earning at Chiefs where he was on a package below R3,2 million per annum (gross and including signing-on fees and other perks).
The package structure of that deal left him with a net monthly salary in the region of USD6500 (approx. R123 000).
In Libya, Bimenyimana will play in the CAF Champions League with Al Ahli Benghazi having finished second in the domestic league last season and will not have the complications of tax deductions that he had on his contract at Chiefs.
For now, the towering striker has headed back home to Burundi and will be part of the national team that plays Cameroon in a crucial AFCON qualifier on September 12.
Bimenyimana has been called up despite his lack of action at club level, having last played a competitive club match on 6 May against Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup when he came on as a substitute.
Burundi national team coach Etienne Ndayiragije has already told this website that the Chiefs discard remains in his plans having scored and assisted in his last appearance in June.
You must be Sign In to read and post comments.
Click HERE to register!