Earlier this year, when marking out his journey from North Africa to the blue side of Glasgow, Rangers striker Hamza Igamane picked out one ‘turning point’ in his young career.
It was that meeting with Soufiane Ringa, the £1.7 million summer signing from RAF Rabat explains, which set him on his way to Ibrox.
Ringa coached one of the local teams near Hamza Igamane’s Moroccan hometown.
The talented centre-forward credits him for laying the foundations for an eventual breakthrough at Wydad Temara, a major signpost on his route to Scotland. A journey who’s next step will reportedly result in Igamane earning himself a first call-up for the Morocco national team this month.
“It all started in my neighbourhood,” the Temara-born Igamane would tell Le 360 Sport. “I played with my friends in the alleys, like many young people in Morocco. But what marked a turning point was my meeting with Soufiane Ringa, coach of the neighborhood teams.
“He noticed me and took me under his wing, along with several other children at the time. Thanks to him, I was able to join an association team, then join Wydad Temara later.”
Hamza Igamane’s former coach explains Rangers striker’s rapid rise
But if Ringa was the man who lit a fire under Igamane’s now white-hot ascent, the player himself deserves a huge portion of the credit. Few players get the chance to go from their native Africa to one of the most historic clubs in European football right away.
Even fewer settle in a new league, a new club and a new country quite as quickly as Hamza Igamane has done at Rangers.
“Hamza was distinguished, not only in terms of technique but also in terms of his mentality,” Ringa recalls. “He had great self-confidence and, on the pitch, he was seen as a leader.
“I discovered Hamza Igamane on the streets of Temara city. This year, Hamza has proven his quality. Thirteen goals inside just five months. We are still discovering his hidden potential.”
Igamane a source of inspiration for Morocco’s next generation
Igamane’s relentless ascent into Scottish football’s next multi-million star has slowed of late.
After netting 12 goals in just 15 games either side of Christmas – including a Europa League brace against Nice, one against Tottenham Hotspur and a Hibernian hat-trick – Hamza Igamane is now on a barren streak which has reached ten games.
Yet, at the age of just 22 and only one year after he was playing for AS Far Rabat against the likes of Union Touarga, Berrechid, SCC Mohammedia and OC Safi, a tally of 13 goals not only shifts his £1.7 million price-tag one decimal place to the right, it also represents a return even the most optimistic may have doubted.
“People watch and comment on everything he does at Rangers,” adds Fernando da Cruz, who helped Igamane play his way into Europe with 16 goals and eight assists in 58 AS Far appearances.
“When he was scoring and creating lots of goals, it impacted people here. Everyone is very proud that Igamane is playing for Rangers. He’s an inspiration for lots of players. His neighbourhood and all Moroccans are proud of him because he has represented Moroccan’s well.”
Who knows if Igamane’s ascent will prove to be a turning of the gap moment for a veritable waterfall of Moroccan talent. Yet, just two years after they came within touching distance of a World Cup final, the future has seldom looked brighter for the Atlas Lions.
