Everything you need to know about Cavalry’s Ahinga Selemani

He was linked to the Canadian Premier League before the 2019 season, then again before 2020, but finally, 24-year-old Ahinga Selemani has found his way back to Canada with Cavalry FC! The Moncton-born striker has had an extremely interesting career journey so far, touching down in the USA, Greece, Czech Republic, New Zealand, and even Gibraltar before finally making his way back to play football in his birth nation – something he has never done in his senior career.

A versatile forward who can play out wide and through the middle, Selemani’s most successful professional season came with Hawke’s Bay United in the New Zealand Premiership during the 2019-20 season, where he banged in 10 goals and provided 6 assists in 16 games. He ended up winning Hawke’s Bay’s player of the season award while finishing 4th in the golden boot race, drawing many eyes and ears from the Canadian market. It’s also worth noting that Selemani featured at both U17 and U18 level for the USA, scoring 4 goals in 12 matches across both age groups.

As a player, Selemani is a quick, dynamic striker who moves well on the pitch. You’ll find that he’s like liquid in the box – difficult to read and impossible to contain. His low centre of gravity and intensity allow him to make a difference with quick, precise movements in the box that often lead to dangerous chances, for both him and his teammates. Oh yeah, and he’s a dynamite finisher too.

It’s worth noting that Selemani hit his best form in New Zealand when playing as a striker in a front 2, so it will be interesting to see whether Tommy Wheeldon Jr tries a similar method with Cavalry to get the best out of his shiny new forward. Or perhaps he has something else up his sleeve, we will just have to wait and see. Cavalry has lost both Jordan Brown and Marcus Haber this off-season, making Selemani a coveted new signing, expected to take up some of the goalscoring duties.

I briefly caught up with Ahinga Selemani this week to discuss his career and his move to Cavalry:

You’re back in Canada! How does it feel to have joined Cavalry FC in the Canadian Premier League?

“It’s exciting to be back in Canada and to be playing for Cavalry. I’m just thankful that an organization that has done well in the first 2 years of the CPL had an interest in me. I just want to do my best!”

What was it about Cavalry that appealed to you?

“I think just after speaking to the staff, getting the feel of what they wanted and how I would be integrated, I was in! You know, Cavalry has done well and they’re a well-known team in the CPL. The name speaks for itself already, and the city of Calgary is a beautiful place to be. There are a lot of things that were appealing about Cavalry.”

How would you describe yourself as a player?

“I see myself as a pretty dynamic #9. I’m looking to go in behind whenever I get a chance, but I can also be a threat to combine with the midfielders and change a game in that aspect. I love to read the game and play between the lines. Just working with my teammates to stretch the field or come deep and combine, that’s what I’m about.”

Can you take us through your journey as a professional footballer so far?

“Yeah so, I’m born in Canada but I’d say my journey started in the USA. I moved to the USA with my family in my early teens and from there I had the opportunity to be involved with the youth international teams and the college soccer system. I attended the University of Michigan and the University of Santa Barbara, and those were really good experiences for me and my development as a player.”

“Then I transitioned to try and play in Europe, then last year I moved to New Zealand to play in the ISPS Handa Premiership. I learned a lot about my football over the last few years, being challenged in different places and in different systems. But I’ve been really hard-working wherever I’ve been, making the best out of every situation.”

10 goals and 6 assists in 16 matches with Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand last year. How was that season from your perspective?

“Yeah, so last year in New Zealand was a good one in terms of finally getting the chance to play games consistently and developing a rhythm with a good squad around me. Fortunately, I was able to produce in a season that was cut short by the pandemic. Really I was just learning to play with a group consistently – week-in, week-out. For me, that was the biggest takeaway from last season – how important camaraderie is to be a successful group.”

What are you hoping to accomplish in the Canadian Premier League – both on a personal level and a team level?

“Well, obviously the most important thing is the team’s objectives and doing what I can to help achieve it. I will play whatever role is necessary in order to help the team be successful. We want to win this year, so whatever it takes to win!”

“On a personal level, I want to do my best to be in front of goal and finish chances. Also contributing to my teammates scoring and in general, having a good attack. I think the most important thing is to be focused – week-in, week-out. That’s the only way our goals will be accomplished. The most important thing is the team and the team getting results.”

NEXT: Everything you need to know about York 9’s Jordan Wilson

Cavalry has fallen agonizingly short of the Canadian Premier League title in both seasons thus far, which means that Tommy Wheeldon Jr and his players will be hungrier than ever to deliver the North Star Shield in 2021. If they are going to accomplish that, then Eikon Sports athlete Ahinga Selemani will certainly be a big part of it!