By Lucky van Rukundo
On Monday, March 4, Rwandan international defender Dylan Maes, 22, signed for Latvian top-flight club FS Jelgava, as a free agent, after his short-term contract with Slovenian outfit NK Tolmin had expired in January.
The 1.91-meter center back who has represented Rwanda at U20 and U23 levels, is pleased with the deal and sees it as a steep closer to his Senior Amavubi debut.
“I’m very happy to have joined FS Jelgava. I am looking forward to performing as best as possible in the league and hopefully, I can make my senior international debut for Rwanda,” Maes told Times Sport.
Updates Bible’s Rwandan football writer Lucky van Rukundo caught up with Maes where he shared his both senior international career and new Amahoro Stadium dreams.
Tell us about yourself
My name is Dylan Maes, I’m 22 years old. I was born in Brussels, Belgium I have a Belgian Father and a Rwandan mother. I play as a central defender for Latvian first-division team FS Jelgava and my goal is to make my senior international debut for Rwanda’s Amavubi.
Tell us about your Journey
I spent my youth career at Waasland Beveren, a 1st division club in Belgium, the same club where Amavubi captain Djihad Bizimana used to play. After that, I went to Portugal for Sintrense and quickly got noticed by Estrela da Amadora, a second-division club.
I then signed for Alki Oroklini (Cyprus) and NK Tolmin (Slovenia) who both play in the second division. I have recently signed with FS Jelgava, a Latvian premier league club.
How do you see the Rwandan football and national team?
I know Rwandan football is evolving a lot, the building of a new stadium called Amahoro Stadium. The players abroad are doing well; I think the future of Rwandan future is very bright. My last memory of Rwanda was the game against Mali U23. We did very well though were unlucky not to take three points.
On his dreams, the Brussels-born central defender has told us he eyes his Senior Amavubi debut and dreams of playing at New Amahoro Stadium.
Dylan Maes, generally, plays as a center-back but can also be deployed in central midfield where he can also play with ease.
On his inspiration, he says his idol was Belgian legend Vincent Kompany and he had been trying to take bits from his game. Maes’ current idol is Liverpool FC and Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk.
He finally admires Dhijad Bizimana as the Rwandan greatest footballer, especially for the one who used to play in the same club, Waasland Beveren.