Sony Norde witnessed his favourite team Argentina losing the World Cup final and only two days after the disappointment, he lifted the most prestigious title in Bangladesh football - the premier league with Sheikh Jamal.
However, his love affair with Bangladesh football has ended as the Haitian international forward announced after the game yesterday that he will leave Sheikh Jamal and join Belgian Professional League side KV Oostende in the upcoming season.
Yesterday’s clash against Abahani was probably his last game in Bangladesh with only two matches left for Sheikh Jamal till the end of the league. The pacy and tricky winger will leave Dhaka on July 21 to join the Belgian top-flight club. “I am leaving the club and another foreign player will come so the same thing will stay. I will miss Sheikh Jamal because I enjoyed it when I played for them,” said the 24-year old playmaker.
During his short two-year stay in Bangladesh, Sony Norde became the fans’ favourite in the country’s domestic football scene after he helped Sheikh Russel win the treble last season. He was then the chief architect of Sheikh Russel’s campaign. The performance attracted big-spenders Sheikh Jamal who recruited him with a record fee.
The Haitian caught the attention of the fans and other clubs outside Bangladesh following his dazzling display in the 118th IFA Shield in Kolkata early this year. He played a starring role behind Sheikh Jamal’s progression to the final of the prestigious tournament where he was adjudged the best player. Several Indian clubs like Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting (Kolkata) displayed huge interests but the forward chose Europe as his next destination.
Sony Norde recently took a vacation from Sheikh Jamal and flew to Belgium on April 11 to try his luck in the Belgian top-flight club. “This is very difficult for me too (about the fans). Because every time I go to Facebook the fans say, ‘Stay! Stay! But I must try another country and Belgium offered me the opportunity to play and what I wanted,” he added.
Sony Norde, however, refused to reveal the details of his contract or the remuneration that he will receive from the Belgian club but hinted that it is “five times more than Bangladesh”. Oostende have been recently promoted to the Belgium Pro League for only the second time in their history. They became the champions of the second division in the 2012-13 season.
