adminWHEN King Kazu signed a new deal in January last year, to extend his record as the world’s oldest professional footballer, he certainly didn’t know he was providing inspiration to a number of daredevils around the world.
The ageless warriors, who have been challenging the boundaries of retirement, in a game which has changed a lot.
It’s unlikely anyone will ever get close to Kazuyoshi Miura.
He even made appearances for Japanese top-flight club, Yokohama, at the age of 54 years.
In September 2020, at the age of 53 years and 210 days, he became the oldest player to ever feature in the Japanese top-flight league.
Little does he know that someone in Zimbabwe has been following his journey.
Innocent Benza might not have Miura’s star but the businessman, who is now 50, just wants to keep enjoying his passion to play for his club Herentals.
As long as others, like the Japanese legend, are doing it, and even getting recognition, and congratulations from FIFA, Benza said he will not hang up his boots, anytime soon.
“I would like to thank God, for keeping me fit, the gift of life is the most special one can get.
“I am really thankful for that. I would like to thank my teammates (who, ironically, include his son Tinotenda), family and friends for being there for me.
“Well, I am feeling fit and I am still raring to go, I will play the game until my legs can no longer carry me, as for now, I am still very much in it.
“I have a special training regime that I follow and a healthy diet.
“I will be playing the game for a couple of years to come and I am not yet at a position to say when I will hang up my boots.”
And, people like King Kazu, inspire him.
“It’s good to know that there are others, who are even older, who have also decided they will not be bullied by age and want to play as long as they can,’’ he said.
“Kazu is a case in point, you get inspiration from such supreme athletes and you tell yourself that, if they can do it, then you can also do it because we are all human beings.
“It’s not about the critics, there will always be some people who feel they have to criticise others, it’s how the world is but everyone has his or her life and it’s about living it to try and make a difference to the world.
“The world has been having a tough time, with the pandemic, and all the lives that we have lost, the changes we have made to the way we live and the businesses which have been shattered, with many people losing their jobs.
“We have all had to adjust and health has become a huge factor in our world, that is why we have all been thanking those frontline workers, who have been doing incredible things to keep our world safe.
“We are now all being encouraged to exercise, and take care of our bodies and, if I am providing an inspiration, for even just one person, by playing football at my age, then I am happy to be making a difference.’’
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter