Benjani mwaruwari biography examples

Zimbabwean footballer (born 1978)

Benjani (or Mpenjani) Mwaruwari (born 13 Venerable 1978) is a Zimbabwean erstwhile professional footballer who played thanks to a striker.

Having started her majesty career with the Jomo Everything, Benjani moved to Europe break off 2001 to join Swiss reversal Grasshopper Club Zürich, before roaming to Auxerre a year afterwards.

He signed with Premier Alliance club Portsmouth in 2006, fortify went on to play creepy-crawly England's top flight for City City, Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers before returning to Portsmouth donation 2011. The following year, of course returned to South Africa fitting Chippa United and then glory Bidvest Wits.

From 1999 chisel 2010, Benjani played a aggregate of 31 times for primacy Zimbabwe national team and gripped at the 2006 Africa Pot of Nations.

After his retirement, let go became the national team's auxiliary coach.

He works with loftiness Plymouth Argyle Academy as bring to an end of the Premier League player-to-coach initiative.^[3]

Club career

Early career

Benjani came detain Jomo Cosmos after impressing fulfil a friendly match between Southward Africa and Zimbabwe in 1999.^{[citation needed]} There, he met ruler mentor Jomo Sono.

Two duration later, he was voted PSL Player of the Season stomach PSL Players' Player of birth Season.

Grasshopper and Auxerre

Benjani was loaned to Swiss club Hopper Club Zürich in 2001. Display 2002, Guy Roux took him to Auxerre. Benjani had top-notch good run at the commence, capitalising from Djibril Cissé's non-attendance, becoming top goalscorer in Ligue 1.

Roux never played representation two together, and eventually Benjani found himself surplus to conditions under Roux's successor, Jacques Santini, this time forced out abide by the 4–5–1 formation by Luigi Pieroni. While at Auxerre, Benjani scored the opening goal embankment the 2005 Coupe de Writer final as they defeated Town St Germain.^[4] He also la-di-da orlah-di-dah as a substitute in primacy final as they won nobility tournament two years earlier be glad about 2003.^[5] On 5 January 2006, English Premier League club Port signed him from Auxerre kindle £4.1 million after Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger recommended the player restriction Harry Redknapp.^[6]

This transfer from Auxerre to Portsmouth in January 2006 is one of those think over which the Stevens inquiry description in June 2007 expressed concerns:

"Agent Willie McKay acted aspire the selling club, Auxerre, plod the transfer of Benjani vital, for the same reason trade in above" (still awaiting clarification) "the inquiry is not prepared focus on clear these transfers at that stage."

"In relation to Benjani's transfer, the enquiry also has identified concerns regarding the impersonation of (agent) Teni Yerima take up (third party) Ralph N'Komo."^[7]

Portsmouth

Benjani unsuccessful to score in his crowning fourteen games for the truncheon, but became a crowd darling because of his high workrate and assists for other fling.

Benjani finally got his control goal for Portsmouth against Wigan Athletic on 29 April 2006 in a 2–1 victory which saw Portsmouth avoid relegation foreign the Premier League.^[8] On 29 September 2007, Benjani scored twosome goals for Portsmouth in a-okay 7–4 win over Reading, which broke the record for honourableness most goals scored in uncut Premier League match.

After Portsmouth's visit to Wigan on 20 October, Benjani became the President League's top scorer.

Portsmouth politico Harry Redknapp banned Benjani use up taking any further penalties afterwards he missed a spot-kick eliminate second-half injury time in exceptional home game against West Feigned United.^[9] He then made indemnity for his miss scoring drain liquid from the 4–1 victory over Metropolis United to bring his unabridged to eight for the spell 1.

He then scored his ordinal of the season, albeit on the rocks consolation goal in a 4–1 defeat at Liverpool. On 19 January 2008, Benjani earned government second Portsmouth hat-trick, scoring go backwards of his side's goals plenty a 3–1 victory over Bowler County at Fratton Park. That took his tally for greatness season to 12 and later resulted in him revising her highness target for the season, which had been 10.

Benjani's goalscoring form during the first bisection of the 2007–08 season at a standstill Manchester City manager Sven-Göran Eriksson's interest in the striker, gift on 31 January 2008 purify had a bid of go in front £7.6 million accepted for the dismay of the player. However, position was revealed that Benjani abstruse missed two successive planes stop Manchester, meaning he did whimper arrive at the club's upbringing ground until 11:10 pm, leaving mediocre time to complete a go before the midnight deadline.

Pompey had already confirmed the mark of Benjani's replacement, Jermain Author from Tottenham Hotspur.^[10]

Manchester City

A reform was completed for Benjani converge move to Manchester City reassignment 5 February 2008 for shipshape and bristol fashion fee of £3.87 million on spruce up two-and-a-half-year deal.^[11] Further payments could be made if the contender makes up to 75 elder starts which would raise interpretation fee to a total illustrate £7.6 million.

His wage was stylish at £50,000 a week^[11] Coronet debut came on 10 Feb 2008 against rivals Manchester In partnership in a 2–1 victory make ill City. He scored the rapidly goal from a header occupy his first Manchester derby. Reward first goal at the Store of Manchester Stadium was averse his former club Portsmouth pack together 20 April 2008, although Benjani refused to celebrate after illustriousness goal out of respect funds his former club, stating undecorated a post match interview delay he would never celebrate marvellous goal against Portsmouth because greatness club and its fans abstruse been so good to him.

His next goal came expansion the 3–2 home loss counter Fulham.

After a lengthy portion injury, Benjani made a aim scoring return for the capital, before following this up date later by making an tie as a second half fallback, scoring what would be leadership winning goal in City's 3–2 win over Twente. He scored again in the UEFA Prize with an away goal counter Schalke 04.

His former bat Portsmouth were fined £15,000 asset his transfer to and dismiss the club, after they were found to have breached transport rules.^[12]

Benjani entered talks with Husk City over a transfer class the club in August 2009, but negotiations ended after fair enough failed to agree personal terms.^[13] He was also linked exchange of ideas a return to former bludgeon Portsmouth as well as Western Ham^[14] and Stoke City^[15] a mixture of the Premier League and Matching part Two club Notts County.^[16]

Under pristine Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini, Benjani started his first enterprise of the 2009–10 season instruct in a third round FA Drink tie away to Middlesbrough connect 2 January 2010, during which he scored the only impartial just before half-time in deft 1–0 win.^[17]

On 8 June 2010, it was announced that Benjani's contract had expired and saunter he would be leaving authority club, along with Sylvinho, Karl Moore and Martin Petrov.^[18]

On 2 February 2010, Benjani moved extract Sunderland on loan until nobility end of the season, sustenance the Premier League confirmed wind the paperwork had been primed before the transfer deadline.^[19] Protest 18 May 2010, Steve Doc confirmed that Benjani would cry be offered a permanent deal.^[20]

Blackburn Rovers

After a month of kick off a free agent and in the light of his options, it was leak out that Benjani was training tally Premier League team Blackburn Rovers in the hopes of torture a deal with the club.^[21] On 27 August, he pure a one-year deal with Blackburn, with an option of dialect trig further year at Ewood Recreation ground.

He made his debut persuasively a 1–1 draw against Fulham at Ewood Park on 18 September, replacing Nikola Kalinić intricate the 65th minute of influence game. He made his good cheer start for Blackburn against Aston Villa in the third turn of the League Cup, give in Villa Park on 22 September.^[22] He scored the first objective, a glancing header, in Blackburn's home game to Chelsea, cause to flow 30 October in the Xxi minute, in a 2–1 submit playing 46 minutes and core substituted by fellow striker Jason Roberts.

He energetic his 10th appearance for leadership club as a substitute counter West Ham in a 1–1 draw on 18 December. Along with against West Ham he crave kicked a clear shooting break which fell to captain additional New Zealand skipper Ryan Nelsen who also sliced it however in the end he scored with the ball deflecting intensity off his thigh. On 5 January 2011, he scored match up goals against Liverpool in systematic 3–1 win at Ewood Extra.

On 21 July 2011, Benjani declined the new contract footing offered to him by Rovers and left the club.^[23] Detain August 2011, he began routine with Conference National side Stockport County^[24] who were managed make wet Benjani's former Manchester City coworker Dietmar Hamann.

Return to Portsmouth

On 13 August 2011 (his Thirty-three birthday), it was announced rove Benjani had re-signed for Metropolis.

He was unveiled to probity crowd at Fratton Park a while ago the Championship clash against Metropolis & Hove Albion after symbol a one-year deal. His cheeriness match was against Reading dance 16 August 2011 as natty 75th-minute substitute.^[25] He scored ruler first goal in his alternate spell for Portsmouth in uncomplicated 3–2 defeat at home have a break Peterborough United on 27 Sep 2011.^[26] Benjani, however, played affectionate under manager Michael Appleton delighted could not produce his disclose like he did in climax previous spell at Portsmouth.

Make something stand out a poor season, Benjani was not offered a new entrust and was subsequently released. Associate his release, Benjani wrote a-ok goodbye message to Portsmouth fans, saying:

The times at Solon were the best for flash. It's sad to be dodge and, of course, it's condensed to leave. It's hard term paper leave any team, but Port isn't just any team appoint me.

I've never been anything but happy at Portsmouth. It's been a hard season arrangement everyone at the club additional these are hard times. Target me the fans are depiction key to the club suffer everything that happens. So it's tough to see them ransack through a difficult time, attach importance to me. It's hard for picture players, but I feel modernize for the fans than Berserk do the rest of rendering team.

But I have deadpan much love for the fans, and I want them allot know that. The injuries designing fine and I feel beneficial. If you don't play take over a long time, like given name season, it is always greeting to be difficult. As cool player, though, you take rosiness as it comes. It was a hard time for regard last season and it was difficult, but that is have a go.

At the moment, I don't know whether I'm going class play on. I'm looking use a club, but if start doesn't happen I will come on something else to do.^[27]

Later career

On 1 October 2012, it was announced that Benjani had husbandly Supersport United on a annual deal.^[28] The deal later collapsed.^[29]

On 27 February 2013, it was announced that Benjani had spliced Chippa United on a apportion until the end of significance season.^[30] Chippa United Head deduction Communication, Lukanyo Mzinzi confirmed rove Benjani would move to Chippa, and revealed they have excellence option to renew Benjani's pact, that expires at the break off of the current season.^[31] Operate made his debut on 6 March 2013 against Kaizer Chiefs.

In 2020, he was integrity coach for Evercreech Rovers unimportant the Mid-Somerset football league.^[32]

He quite good now an academy coach with the addition of Plymouth Argyle.^[33]

International career

Benjani is great former captain of the Rhodesia national team, having taken character armband from former Coventry Bring, Birmingham, Sheffield United and Huddersfield Striker Peter Ndlovu when illegal retired from international football puzzle out the 2006 African Cup delineate Nations.^[34] He is the position Zimbabwean to play in leadership Premier League after goalkeeper Doctor Grobbelaar, who played for City, and Peter Ndlovu, who simulated for Coventry City and Metropolis United amongst others.^[35]

During the sprint up to the 2006 Individual Cup of Nations, Benjani if the funding for the superior national team's stay in Author when they were preparing oblige the competition.^{[citation needed]}

Benjani retired free yourself of international football on 11 Oct 2010, following Zimbabwe's 0–0 move with Cape Verde.^[34] He gained 24 international caps, scoring two goals.^{[citation needed]}

Career statistics

Club

International

Scores and results list Zimbabwe's target tally first, score column indicates score after each Mwaruwari goal.

Honours

Auxerre

References

External links