Ugandan attacking midfielder Usama Arafat Kiza could secure a big move to African powerhouse Wydad AC after being invited by the club for trials, The Nerve Africa has exclusively learned.
Earlier on Monday, reports indicated that the KCCA FC player jetted off to Morocco upon the recommendation of their new head coach Rulani Mokwena. The Nerve Africa has since confirmed the developments, with the player’s camp optimistic about eventually securing the move.
“He’s (Arafat) already with Wydad on Rulani’s invitation. He has long been an admirer since his visit to KCCA in 2022. We expect the trials to be successful, and we are hopeful a deal will come through. We are staying patient for now,” The Nerve Africa source disclosed in an interview.
It should be noted that Arafat still has a year left on his contract with KCCA, and the two clubs involved will need to agree on a fee if a deal is to materialize. Sources at KCCA have also indicated the club is willing to cash in on their star player.
Meanwhile, Arafat is making his second attempt to play in North Africa in the ongoing transfer window. Initially, he had been set to join Egypt’s ZED FC over a month ago, but the deal fell through as the latter failed to match KCCA’s asking fee of $18,500 (Shs. 68m).
The 19-year-old winger, who can also operate centrally, enjoyed a decent season with KCCA last season, both domestically and in the preliminary stages of the 2023/24 CAF Confederation Cup.
He appeared in 26 matches in the Uganda Premier League and CAF Confederation Cup, scoring 10 goals and providing six assists. His consistency earned him calls to both the Uganda U20 team (Hippos) and the senior side (Uganda Cranes).
As the Uganda U20s assistant captain, he helped them clinch a silver medal at the 2024 All-Africa Games in Accra, Ghana. There, he netted three goals and managed two assists in five games. With the Cranes, Usama has played two times and is yet to score a goal.
