Duhok-born Rewan Amin Mohammed, better known as Rewan Amin, is touted as one of Europe’s most promising youngsters.
Being the son of a former Iraqi-Kurdish professional, the nineteen-year-old believes he has what it takes to emulate his father’s success. Amin fled Iraq with his family at the age of three and headed to the city of Leeuwarden in northern Netherlands. Three years later, Amin began playing for local side LAC Frisia 1883. Sparking attention from scouts up and down the country, the midfielder was snapped up at the age of 12 by Frisian giants sc Heerenveen. Amin was then called up to the Dutch under-15 squad and scored the winning goal on his debut against Belgium. His next call-up came at under-17 level where he was guided by Albert Stuivenberg, now Louis van Gaal’s right-hand man at Manchester United. Amin went on to secure ten more caps that season and was handed the skippers armband in the process. “Representing Holland is an absolute honour. To know that so many legends have risen from playing at the level I am at today makes me proud and even more focused,” Amin told socceriraq.net. Interest from across the continent was lurking. RSC Anderlecht, PSV Eindhoven, Slavia Prague and Arsenal inquired into the midfielder’s availability after impressive performances against Germany and Portugal.
Amin, though, was keen on staying put. “As a footballer, patience is key. If you are impatient, you won’t succeed,” he said. In 2013, Amin signed a three-year contract with Heerenveen and marked a decade at the club this year. “Heerenveen has an amazing academy. In Holland, they are renowned for producing great talent! I’ve had an amazing ten years at the club and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.” His loyalty led him to captaining Heerenveen’s youth side to KNVB Cup success. Making the milestone even more special was the fact the midfielder scored the deciding goal in the final.
Much of the credit so far in Amin’s career should go to his father – Khalid Amin Zaro – a former Iraqi-Kurdish international and Duhok forward. Zaro played for the city\’s biggest side as a teenager and helped the club lift the Iraqi division two title in 1994. For Amin, his father has been somewhat of an inspiration growing up. “If it wasn’t for my father, I wouldn’t be at the level I am at today. He has taught me so much and I really do have a lot to thank him for.”
Tipped as a national wonder-kid, one must ask whether Amin has thought about the possibility of representing Iraq over Holland. “I haven’t spoken to my parents properly about it yet because I haven’t heard anything concrete from the Iraq FA,” Amin said. “I still have a lot of time before I need to make that decision but of course I would love to play for Iraq, it’s my homeland!” Amin’s drive and desire is clear. “My dream is to one day play in the Champions League.” Will Rewan Amin represent the Lions of Mesopotamia and become only the second ever Iraqi to feature in Europe’s elite competition? Time will tell. One thing for sure though, the Duhok-Dutchman has the ability to become one of the greatest ever Kurds to play the game.
