Benjani Mwaruwari: Difference between revisions
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Bonjovi played for the Lulu Rovers and University of Zimbabwe teams in Zimbabwe's Division one and Air Zimbabwe Jets in the country's Premier League in 1999. He moved to [[South Africa]]n club [[Jomo Cosmos Football Club|Jomo Cosmos]] (1999-2001) where he met his mentor [[Jomo Sono]], this was after impressing in the friendly match between [[South Africa national football team|South Africa]] and [[Zimbabwe national football team|Zimbabwe]] that was played to commomerate the inauguration of [[Thabo Mbeki]] as the president of South Africa. Zimbabwe won that match 1-0 courtesy of his goal at the [[FNB Stadium]]. |
Bonjovi played for the Lulu Rovers and University of Zimbabwe teams in Zimbabwe's Division one and Air Zimbabwe Jets in the country's Premier League in 1999. He moved to [[South Africa]]n club [[Jomo Cosmos Football Club|Jomo Cosmos]] (1999-2001) where he met his mentor [[Jomo Sono]], this was after impressing in the friendly match between [[South Africa national football team|South Africa]] and [[Zimbabwe national football team|Zimbabwe]] that was played to commomerate the inauguration of [[Thabo Mbeki]] as the president of South Africa. Zimbabwe won that match 1-0 courtesy of his goal at the [[FNB Stadium]]. |
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In 2001 he was voted |
In 2001 he was voted the Footballer of the Year in South Africa along with [[Kanu]] despite only having joined the South African Premiership in the second half of the season. |
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he was born in 2001 and is only 6, he plays for pompey fc, who are currently bottom of the premiership, |
he was born in 2001 and is only 6, he plays for pompey fc, who are currently bottom of the premiership, |
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Revision as of 01:22, 3 November 2007
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Benjamin Mwaruwari | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Portsmouth | ||
| Number | 25 | ||
| ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 December 2006 | |||
Benjamin 'Benjani' Mwaruwari (born 13 August 1978 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe), is a footballer currently playing for Portsmouth F.C. in the Premier League as a striker. He was born to parents of Malawian descent and has chosen to represent Zimbabwe at professional level, the country where he was born and raised. In the Ngonde language, his name should read Mwaluwali but because the Shona language uses 'R' in place of 'L', since 'L' is not part of Shona alphabet, his name now reads Mwaruwari.
Early career
Bonjovi played for the Lulu Rovers and University of Zimbabwe teams in Zimbabwe's Division one and Air Zimbabwe Jets in the country's Premier League in 1999. He moved to South African club Jomo Cosmos (1999-2001) where he met his mentor Jomo Sono, this was after impressing in the friendly match between South Africa and Zimbabwe that was played to commomerate the inauguration of Thabo Mbeki as the president of South Africa. Zimbabwe won that match 1-0 courtesy of his goal at the FNB Stadium.
In 2001 he was voted the Footballer of the Year in South Africa along with Kanu despite only having joined the South African Premiership in the second half of the season.
he was born in 2001 and is only 6, he plays for pompey fc, who are currently bottom of the premiership, he has an outstanding record, which only the best have acheived 247 games scoring 7 goals, 4 from his head and 1 by mistake and 2 own goals.
Europe
He later moved to Grasshoppers Zürich of Switzerland on loan (2001-2002), after which he was on the verge of being sent back to Africa. Then in 2002, Guy Roux handed him a trial at AJ Auxerre of France. Benjani had a good run at the start, capitalising from Djibril Cissé's absence, becoming top goalscorer in Ligue 1. Roux never played the two together, and eventually Benjani found himself surplus to requirements under Roux's successor,Jacques Santini, this time forced out of the 4-5-1 formation by Luigi Pieroni. On 5 January 2006 English Premiership club Portsmouth signed him from Auxerre for a club record fee of £4.1 million.[1]
This transfer from Auxerre to Portsmouth in January 2006 is one of those about which the Stevens inquiry report in June 2007 expressed concerns:
“Agent Willie McKay acted for the selling club, Auxerre, in the transfer of Benjani and, for the same reason as above” {still awaiting clarification) “the inquiry is not prepared to clear these transfers at this stage.”
“In relation to Benjani’s transfer, the inquiry also has identified concerns regarding the role of (agent) Teni Yerima and (third party) Ralph N’Komo”[2].
Portsmouth
After not scoring in his first fourteen games for the club, Benjani finally got his first goal for Portsmouth against Wigan on 29 April 2006 in a 2-1 victory.[3] Benjani has been criticized by some due to a lack of goals, while others disagree, pointing to his work ethic and intelligent link-up play. In any case, he is beginning to show an eye for goal, having scored six goals in the 2006-07 season he then started then next season with goals in the opening 2 games, at Derby County and at home to champions Manchester United. On September 29th, Benjani scored his first hat-trick for Portsmouth in an incredible 7-4 victory over Reading, which broke the record for both the number of goals scored in a Premiership match, and a league match shown on Match of the Day. After Portsmouth's recent visit to Wigan, Benjani became the Premier Leagues top scorer. In Zimbabwe they call him the undertaker for his fiery type of play.
Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp banned Benjani from taking any further penalties after Mwaruwari missed a spot-kick in second-half injury time in a home game against West Ham United.[4]
National team and country commitments
He is the current Zimbabwe national team captain, having taken the armband from the legendary Peter Ndlovu after the 2006 African Cup of Nations.
Benjani is the third Zimbabwean to play in the English Premiership after goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar and Ndlovu. In 2003, he became the first Zimbabwean to score in the UEFA Champions League.
Benjani is a key figure in the development of football in Zimbabwe. During the run up to the 2006 African Cup of Nations, he provided the funding for the senior national team's stay in France when they were preparing for the African soccer showcase.
Many Zimbabwean journalists, including Fidel M. Bondamakara, are of the view that Benjani's contributions will go a long way in upgrading Zimbabwean soccer standards. He is expected to spearhead Zimbabwe's campaign for the 2008 African Cup of Nations as well as the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
Notes and references
- ^ Portsmouth sign striker Mwaruwari, BBC News, 6 January 2006.
- ^ "What Stevens said about each club". www.telegraph.co.uk. 2007-06-16. Retrieved 2007-06-17.
- ^ "Portsmouth laud hero Mwaruwari". BBC Sport. 2006-04-30. Retrieved 2007-10-29.
- ^ Harry blast for striker Benjani, Teamtalk.com, 28 October 2007.
External links
- BBC profile
- Benjamin Mwaruwari at Soccerbase