Sports / Local
Benjani Mwaruwari could be a Warriors player again
20 Feb 2012 at 04:41hrs | Views
Veteran striker Benjani Mwaruwari could be a Warriors player again.
He quit the Warriors in 2010 after being held to a home goalless draw by Cape Verde in their African Nations Cup qualifier.
Benjani has 29 goals in 44 appearances for Zimbabwe.
He is expected to jet in Harare today for talks with caretaker coach Rahman Gumbo on the possibility of playing for the national team again.
His availability would add experience after a huge void was left with the suspension of 98 players under the Asiagate soccer scandal.
Warriors a due to play Burundi away this weekend during a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations finals in South Africa.
"I am aware of the suspension of players in Zimbabwe and I will be coming on Monday to talk about the possibility of me playing for the Warriors again," Benjani is quoted saying.
Deespite being Zimbabwe's highest-profile player after Peter Ndlovu, Mwaruwari struggled to gain the approval of fans, many of whom felt that he rarely reproduced the form that he showed in European club football.
The dreadlocked forward burst onto the scene, in the colours of the Zimbabwe Under-23 team battling for a place at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, where he led the line of attack with distinction as a pacy forward under the guidance of Dutch coach Clemens Westerhoff.
He was simply irresistible during that period, destroying defences with his sheer pace, including an unforgettable performance in a 2-0 win over Nigeria at the National Sports Stadium where he scored both goals for his Young Warriors.
He played at the 2006 Nations Cup finals, but in a big game against Senegal, missed a big chance that could have turned the tie on its head although a goal, in the final match against Ghana, helped the Warriors to come within minutes of making the quarter-finals.
He quit the Warriors in 2010 after being held to a home goalless draw by Cape Verde in their African Nations Cup qualifier.
Benjani has 29 goals in 44 appearances for Zimbabwe.
He is expected to jet in Harare today for talks with caretaker coach Rahman Gumbo on the possibility of playing for the national team again.
His availability would add experience after a huge void was left with the suspension of 98 players under the Asiagate soccer scandal.
"I am aware of the suspension of players in Zimbabwe and I will be coming on Monday to talk about the possibility of me playing for the Warriors again," Benjani is quoted saying.
Deespite being Zimbabwe's highest-profile player after Peter Ndlovu, Mwaruwari struggled to gain the approval of fans, many of whom felt that he rarely reproduced the form that he showed in European club football.
The dreadlocked forward burst onto the scene, in the colours of the Zimbabwe Under-23 team battling for a place at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, where he led the line of attack with distinction as a pacy forward under the guidance of Dutch coach Clemens Westerhoff.
He was simply irresistible during that period, destroying defences with his sheer pace, including an unforgettable performance in a 2-0 win over Nigeria at the National Sports Stadium where he scored both goals for his Young Warriors.
He played at the 2006 Nations Cup finals, but in a big game against Senegal, missed a big chance that could have turned the tie on its head although a goal, in the final match against Ghana, helped the Warriors to come within minutes of making the quarter-finals.
Source - Byo24News
