adminA fund-raising dinner was held in the capital on Friday evening with some big names he played with in Europe in attendance.
The following day there was a testimonial match which featured his friends and the Warriors at the National Sports Stadium.
More than 40 000 fans attended the match which promised to be a whitewash with the senior national soccer team rushing into the lead in the early stages of the match. After realising the lack of potency in the all-star cast for whom Mwaruwari turned out in the first half, Rahman Gumbo appeared to have told his charges to got at pedestrian pace .
The home team, preparing for the World Cup qualifier against Guinea at the weekend, won 7-4. They were never really tested.
Mwaruwari was on target for both sides and towards the end of the match, he was substituted before doing a lap of honour which was well received by the fans, some of whom gave him a fitting standing ovation.
“I was humbled to see so many people coming to watch the match. It touched the inner me and I would like to say thank you to Zimbabweans and my friends who flew from Asia, Europe and the continent for the match.
“The support was overwhelming, the fans were just too good, they provided a carnival atmosphere and my friends felt great in that atmosphere,” said Mwaruwari on Saturday evening before he joined his friends for a drive to a night spot.
He also paid tribute to his management team for working round the clock to ensure the match and other logistics were attended to.
“To the guys who worked so tirelessly towards the match, I would like to say thank you for working so efficiently,” said the former Highlanders junior.
Proceeds from the match will go towards his Benjani Mwaruwari Foundation.
As part of his legacy, he will soon launch an academy in Bulawayo and last week a tournament that he sponsored was held in Bulawayo.
Jomo Sono, Mwaruwari’s mentor, said he was happy with the testimonial.
“That is the way to go for big players. I am happy he has set the standards. It was good to see his friends from abroad coming down to assist him,” said Sono, largely regarded as the best South African player of the yesteryear era.
El Hadji Diouf was the afternoon’s best performer. He illuminated the scene with some amazing dribbling skills. He slit the Zimbabwe right wing with ease, displaying some trickery many never knew he possessed. He was ever keen to take on the man and when he realised the fans were enjoying every bit of it, he went on overdrive and was guilty of taking too long to release the ball.
His crowning moment was in the second half when, after scoring, he rushed to the corner flag and did the Alick Macheso Zora Butter dance. The fans just went mad in appreciation.
Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Elen Verbawhdele, Christopher Samba, Aaron Mokoena, Kevin Pezzoni, John Pantsil, Lucas Radebe, Pascal Chimbonda, Lomana Lua Lua, Khalilou Fadiga and Nwankwo Kanu are some of the players who availed themselves for the match.
Nigerian forward Yakubu who appeared to be carrying an injury said it was good tribute to a friend who had given his best to the game and wanted to create a platform for more children to reach greater heights.
“It was good being part of this, we wish the foundation the very best. Benjani is my good friend,” said the Blackburn Rovers hitman.
Kanu said it was a fantastic match.
A female fan who said she rarely misses major soccer matches in the capital, Elizabeth Shoko, was happy with the match.
“At first the Warriors appeared not to know what these games are like, but once they realised the visitors were no match for them, they allowed Diouf to showcase his skills. Kanu also impressed me, we should have more of these games,” said Shoko.
One of the highlights of the weekend was a visit to State House by the players. Cosmas Zulu, a former AmaZulu and Highlanders coach, stole the show there when he hugged President Mugabe and said it had taken him 62 years to get that opportunity.
The President asked him where he had been and Zulu said people often made it difficult for him to get close to the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces.
On Friday evening Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi announced that Mwaruwari would join Oliver Mtukudzi as one of the country’s tourism ambassadors. He said ceremonies would be held soon for the two.
In the curtain-raiser the Southern Region veterans won 3-2 when they clashed with their Northern Region counterparts.
Aspero, a new sportswear company from Germany, sponsored uniforms for all four teams that were in action.
Mwaruwari also took care of the winners of his tournament, Bantu Rovers, who watched the match and had a chance to be close to the international players.
Online Reporter