Sports / Soccer
Mwaruwari to start a soccer academy in Bulawayo
06 Jun 2011 at 03:20hrs | Views
Former Warriors skipper Benjani Mwaruwari will take Uefa coaching badges in the off-season as he plans for the future with his English Premiership side Blackburn Rovers facing relegation.
"I have decided to take my coaching badges during the off-season because I'm reaching an age where I have to consider my future," Mwaruwari told New Zimbabwe.com.
He added: "I still think I have the legs for another year or so at the top, but when it is all over I have plans to go back to Zimbabwe and set up an academy in Bulawayo to help others follow my footsteps.
"I have already been given land by the Bulawayo City Council for the project. The plan would be to identify the most talented youngsters from around the country, bring them into the academy and prepare them for professional football. The academy will also finance their education."
It is suspected that Mwaruwari will team up with some some Bulawayo soccer greats like former Amazulu shot stopper Muzondiwa Mugadza to kick start the academy.
The former Portsmouth and Manchester City striker has had a remarkable career ' a rags-to-riches story which began in Bulawayo's Magwegwe suburb where he played for juniors team Young Blood while at Mhali Primary School.
Despite majoring in athletics at school, Benjani later joined Chegutu Pirates before a shock call-up to the national team led to him being snatched by South African club, Jomo Cosmos, after the Warriors played Bafana Bafana at former President Thabo Mbeki's inauguration in 1999.
He moved to Grasshoppers in Switzerland in 2001 before joining Auxerre in France after one season.
His dream move to the English Premier League came in 2006 when he signed for Portsmouth, now also relegated, in a £4,1 million deal. He moved to Manchester City in 2008 ' his most productive season yet with 14 goals ' and had a short loan spell at Sunderland before signing for Blackburn last summer.
He has scored just three goals in 21 league and cup appearances.
"I have decided to take my coaching badges during the off-season because I'm reaching an age where I have to consider my future," Mwaruwari told New Zimbabwe.com.
He added: "I still think I have the legs for another year or so at the top, but when it is all over I have plans to go back to Zimbabwe and set up an academy in Bulawayo to help others follow my footsteps.
"I have already been given land by the Bulawayo City Council for the project. The plan would be to identify the most talented youngsters from around the country, bring them into the academy and prepare them for professional football. The academy will also finance their education."
It is suspected that Mwaruwari will team up with some some Bulawayo soccer greats like former Amazulu shot stopper Muzondiwa Mugadza to kick start the academy.
Despite majoring in athletics at school, Benjani later joined Chegutu Pirates before a shock call-up to the national team led to him being snatched by South African club, Jomo Cosmos, after the Warriors played Bafana Bafana at former President Thabo Mbeki's inauguration in 1999.
He moved to Grasshoppers in Switzerland in 2001 before joining Auxerre in France after one season.
His dream move to the English Premier League came in 2006 when he signed for Portsmouth, now also relegated, in a £4,1 million deal. He moved to Manchester City in 2008 ' his most productive season yet with 14 goals ' and had a short loan spell at Sunderland before signing for Blackburn last summer.
He has scored just three goals in 21 league and cup appearances.
Source - Byo24Sports
