James Keene
Thirteen clubs in 14 years iss some journey. But Englishman James Keene has good reasons for moving to Bidvest Wits. Lovemore Moyo spends an afternoon with the Clever Boys’ newest striker.
The well-travelled striker aims to bring extra bite to the Wits attack
At the beginning of last year, Kaizer Chiefs fans will remember an unfamiliar Englishman being touted as Kingston Nkhatha’s replacement. In the end he wasn’t signed, but James Keene is now back in South Africa after joining League leaders Bidvest Wits in January. Born in Somerset in England’s south west, the 30-year-old broke into the professional ranks at thenEnglish Premier League club Portsmouth in 2004, having graduated from the club’s academy. He then went on loan spells at Kidderminster Harriers, Bournemouth, Boston United and GAIS in Sweden, before being bought outright by another Swedish club IF Elfsborg, where he was a regular. He also spent loan time at Fredrikstad FK in Norway, Djurgadens IF (Sweden) and Portsmouth in League Two Two. In September 2014 he moved to Israeli club Bnei Yehuda, followed by the unusual step of moving to Indian Super League outfit North East United. And in April 2015 he made a move back to join Halmstads BK, where he was teammates with ex-Chiefs forward Matthew Rusike. In total, the striker was most prolific during his stints in Sweden, scoring 38 goals in 171 appearances in Sweden’s top-flight over a period of nine seasons. His journeys have certainly been extensive, but despite the mix of leagues he’s competed in, Keene
has also played in Europe’s premier continental club competitions – the Uefa Champions League and the Europa League, which he did while at Elfsborg. Now in the twilight of his career, the striker has made the move south, while most in South Africa aim for exactly the opposite. Will he fit in with coach Gavin Hunt’s plans? “Absolutely,” Keene says. “I have already watched a couple of matches and I played a few friendlies which went well, before making my debut against Chippa United. The way the coach wants to play football works well for me. The fantastic players that I will have around me will make my job much easier because of the quality of balls that will be coming in. “I think this club suits me well because I am a big team player. I will create, I will take away players for
my teammates to score and I will tackle someone so that my teammate can get the ball and score. I do a lot off the ball that people who don’t understand might not see, but people who know football will realise the job that I do,” he says. Keene, who has signed on a short-team deal running until the end of the season (with an option), hopes to help Wits claim their first-ever PSL title by the time his current contract expires. “The club has ambitions to win the League. Where we are on the table right now, you don’t get that from being an average side, but you have to win games … we just need continuation until the end of the season,” Keene continues. “I think the squad has been strengthened well enough, and it would be great for me to win the League with Wits within six months of my arrival – I want to contribute by way of goals and assists.” What specifically made him choose South Africa as his next destination? “I had options in Sweden, but I wanted something different,” he says. “Not many players do it, but why shouldn’t I do it? This is a good club which wants to win things and wants to do well. After speaking to Gavin and Jose [Ferreira] I got a good feeling about being here. “I have played in Europe for a very long time and have made a good name for myself there, especially in Sweden. I have also played in Israel and I was in the Indian Super League, which was a fantastic experience. I wanted a new kick, I wanted a new drive and I want to win things. After speaking to people at the club I wanted to come here and experience South Africa. “I had a contract at Elfsborg for six years and I could have stayed there for all my career and never get to experience anything else. “I would have played the same football and lived in the same place my whole life. I am young and I want to experience things and with football I think you become a better player the more you travel as you get to experience different styles,” he explains. With his better half already here and smiles all over the dressing-room as Wits continue to dominate in the League, Keene looks well set to enjoy his time in South Africa.