South African international Mbulelo Mabizela will be on trial at Rosenborg this week. The 24-year-old former Tottenham Hotspur player can play both side back and midfielder, but is mainly a central defender.

Mbulelo Mabizela

Full name: Mbulelo Oldjohn Mabizela Date of birth: 16 December 1980 Place of birth: Pietermaritzburg, South Africa Height/weight: 180 cm / 75 kg Position: Central defender Club: Orlando Pirates Former clubs: Mamelodi Sundowns, Maritzburg City, Tottenham Hotspur International caps: 32 A / 2 goals BBC: Mabizela earns his Spurs CNN: Mabizela has instinct for goals

Mabizela is described as the "new Lucas Radebe", and is the youngest ever player to captain the South African national team.

In August 2003 he was bought by Tottenham Hotspur after being elected as the Player of the Year in South Africa. Despite scoring in his Premier League debut against Leicester City, he failed to get a place in the first team. Therefore he returned back home to Orlando Pirates before Christmas.

Nevertheless Mbulelo Mabizela still eagers to more play in Europe, and in January he was on trial at Swedish club Djurgården. Rosenborg's Royal League opponents did however turned the player down.

"He is a incredible gifted central defender, but we were sceptical since we primarily are looking for offensive players," Djurgården coach Kjell Jonevret to Swedish daily Aftonbladet.

Djugården instead tipped RBK about the player.

"The technical director of the Swedish club alerted Rosenborg about Mabizela's availability," the player's agent, Mike Makaab, tells South African Sunday Tribune.

Makaab claims that a move to RBK is very close.

"They have already seen him play, so this trip is just so they can have a final look at him."

Makaab believe the Norwegian championship can help Mabizela "back on track" again after one and a half season on the Tottenham bench.

"Rosenborg have a history of creating the kind of environment which helps players develop and reach their full potential," he says.