Benjani feels at home at Bidvest
Benjani Mwaruwari says that the arrival of Gavin Hunt at Bidvest Wits played a major role in his decision to join the South African Premiership soccer team.
Mwaruwari spent some time with Hunt’s former team SuperSport United last season when his current coach was at the club, but a deal could not be reached between Matsatsantsa and the former Zimbabwean international.
Benjani later had a short stint with Premiership-relegated side Chippa United near the end of last season. The 34-year-old has now reunited with the man that he could not partner with last season and is enjoying his time with the Clever Boys under Hunt’s guidance.
“Of course it played a major role in me being here at the club,” said the former Manchester City striker. You get to know the person, how he is and how he wants things done.
“The understanding is the most important thing because whilst I was there (at SuperSport), even though I did not have a contract but was very professional because that is the key. Coming early to training and doing things correctly you earn people’s respect.”
Having started his South African PSL career with Jomo Cosmos in the late 1990s before he moved to Europe in 2001, Benjani hopes that the 2013/14 campaign will not be his last.
“It depends on whether it will be my last, but if I finish well then I will keep on going,” added Benjani.
“I have been playing football since I was young and it is my passion and I think that if you are still good then there is no reason to stop.
“But if I am struggling and things aren’t going my way then that is where I will stop.”
Meanwhile, Takesure Chinyama has left Bidvest Wits after failing to secure a contract after a fortnight on trial, club officials said yesterday.
The giant Zimbabwean international striker is without a contract after being released after just one season by Orlando Pirates last month.
Chinyama went with Wits to their pre-season training camp in Stellenbosch at the start of the month and looked to have done enough to convince new coach Hunt of his potential to score goals for the club this season.
But in the end it has been decided not to take him in one of the club’s five foreign berths for the upcoming season.
The 30-year-old has international experience and finished joint top scorer in the Poland league during his time at Legia Warsaw but battled with knee and weight problems during his debut campaign in the Absa Premiership.
He scored eight goals last season at Pirates but five were against minnows Djabal of the Comoros Islands. Wits also rejected Kenya defender Eugene Asike and Malawi vice-captain Lucky Malata, who have since gone to Mpumalanga Black Aces on trial.
But they signed Getaneh Kebede of Ethiopia, who played against Bafana Bafana in World Cup qualification last month.
And Kaizer Chiefs striker Knowledge Musona is training with the rest of the Amakhosi squad and will be available for Saturday’s Carling Black Label Cup against Orlando Pirates at the FNB Stadium, should he be voted in. — Kickoff.com-Laduma-Supersport.
