AND THE BEAT GOES ON FOR IB9

Tadious Manyepo

Sports Reporter

INNOCENT “IB9” BENZA is turning 54 this year.

But he has decided to keep on playing for his team Herentals in the Premier Soccer League.

That makes him officially the oldest player in a top-flight league in the world.

Benza has locked the internet over the past two days after giving a decent show in The Students’ 2-1 win over TelOne in the opening weekend of the season, a result which has left his team at the top of the log. His nutmeg on Telone midfielder Kudakwashe Nyakudanga has been circulated all over with international sites even picking it.

Benza says his son Tino is the reason why he keeps on playing the game.

“Besides my desire to see Tino growing to become a big player in the country, and beyond, I am driven by mere passion and the love for the game.

“I do know my limitations and I also know my strengths quite well.

“As long as my feet can carry my body, I will still be playing football because this is what I love.

“I know how to manage my energy levels.

“I have personal coaches on almost every aspect of my being on top of my brother Paul (Benza) who polishes everything that I have to do on the field of play and outside it.

“I am happy to have played well on the opening day of the season. I see people are really amazed with the nutmeg I conjured on Saturday against TelOne at Rufaro but I have done that a lot of times at the same level.

“But it is the love that people are showing me that I am mostly humbled about. You know in sport, there is nothing that you can crave for other than just love. I would like to salute everyone in the football fraternity for showing me love.”

His son Tino said Benza has been the pillar of his strength on and off the field of play.

“My father made me fall in love with football when I was still playing rugby. I am happy that we won on Saturday but I am also sad because I couldn’t put away the two chances he created for me.

“It could have been a beautiful tale altogether.

“It gives me a lot of motivation knowing I will be playing with my father in the same team for yet another year.

“Individually, I think I need to pull up and be able to give a better show than I did last year. Herentals finished fifth in the league and we also have to do better this season. I am trying to improve on all aspects of my game.”