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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
GOLDEN Boot winner Takunda Benhura says he enjoyed being the underdog in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League goal-scoring race until the final weeks leading to his first major individual accolade in his debut season in the domestic topflight football.
Benhura was confirmed winner of the individual prize after finishing with 13 goals, one ahead of biggest rival Obriel Chirinda of Bulawayo Chiefs.
He may not have scored in the final match of the season which ended in a 0-1 defeat to Highlanders at Barbourfields yesterday, but the 22-year-old was over the moon after he was also handed his winner’s medal for lifting the league title with the platinum miners.
“It feels great to win the Golden Boot,” said Benhura.
“There was good competition but the competition always threatens those who are in front of the race. When you are an underdog, like I was, not many people will be looking at you. So this helped take away the pressure from me.
“I want to thank the senior players; they pushed me when things got tough for me as a youngster.
“The coaches, as well, helped me work on my finishing.
“The coach (Takesure Chiragwi) has made a huge difference in my career.
“He is always there, not only for me, but for all the players. He is both a coach and a parent in one in his approach. He guides us on and off the field. He helps us keep in shape and is always shepherding the youngsters especially against the threat of social vices such as drug and alcohol abuse.
“Personally, I hope to continue scoring goals next season. You can’t be a Golden Boot winner this season and next year you are a flop. That’s not what I want. I want to continue scoring goals and winning more Golden Boots.”
Benhura, a product of the Ngezi Platinum Stars development, has risen to prominence in a short period of time after he was thrust into the big boys’ league, on the back of his exceptional performances last season with the Ngezi Platinum Stars Under-20 side in the second tier league.
He will be playing at a much higher level in the CAF Champions League with Ngezi Platinum Stars next season.
“Of course we look forward to good performances in the Champions League. “Hopefully, my scoring will not end here in the domestic league. I look forward to scoring more goals in the Champions League.”
Benhura had a remarkable season after he snatched the coveted accolade from under the nose of his major rival Chirinda of Bulawayo Chiefs, who ended on 12 goals.
He had played in the shadows of Chirinda and Fortune Binzi of Manica Diamonds for the bigger chunk of the campaign. But the turning point was last week when he scored at home in the 3-1 win over Cranborne Bullets, as his rivals froze.
From being a second-tier player, Benhura’s profile has taken a big leap.
He scored 14 goals for the Ngezi Platinum Stars Under-19 side in the NRSL last season, before he was catapulted to the topflight.
Team captain Qadr Amini believes the young player has a bright future.
“He is a good youngster, a natural striker. But he has to stay humble if he wants to go far because winning a championship and the Golden Boot at his age is huge.
“Many players wish for that but they usually come to the end of their careers without winning any accolades.
“He is young and has a great future ahead of him. So he has to avoid getting big-headed and keep working hard to reach his maximum potential,” said Amini.
Benhura did not get many clear cut opportunities to increase his tally yesterday, in a game that their opponents Highlanders gave their all to end the season in a respectable position.
After a period of probing by Bosso in the early minutes, the hosts were rewarded with a goal 20 minutes into the game through a low shot by Mckinnon Mushore.
Mushore was well-positioned to do justice to a brilliant piece of work by teenage forward Prince Ndlovu who beat two markers before threading a neat pass through the middle.
Bosso had earlier on missed two good chances which fell to Calvin Chigonero.
But it was Ngezi Platinum Stars who got the closest first.
They were quick in the Bosso box after only three minutes. Striker Tinotenda Murasiranwa found himself coming face to face with goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda and the veteran goalkeeper made a crucial save.
Then, Bosso took charge from there. Ngezi Platinum Stars defender Gareth Madhake cleared from the line after Bosso had attacked the near post from a corner kick situation after 13 minutes.
Goalkeeper Nelson Chadya was also forced to make a good save in 17 minutes to deny Chigonero.
Ngezi Platinum Stars made a double substitution at the restart with Claude Mapako and Bruno Mtigo coming in.
The complexion of the game changed.
Mapako caused some anxious moments in the Bosso half, using his big frame to his advantage.
The platinum miners persisted in search of an equaliser, which almost came at the hour mark when their top marksman Benhura turned his markers inside the box and fired home a waist-high shot which was cleared from the line by Bosso defender Mbongeni Ndlovu.
Online Reporter