Benjani hails trailblazer Ndlovu

Robson Sharuko
Senior Sports Editor
BENJANI MWARUWARI has hailed Peter Ndlovu’s influence on Zimbabwean footballers and the Flying Elephant’s commitment to the Warriors cause.

Ndlovu, widely regarded as the greatest Warrior of-all-time, spent about 15 years, in the trenches of international football, leading his country to their first AFCON finals appearance.

He also made history as the first Warrior to score, at the Nations Cup finals, when he got Zimbabwe’s goal, in a losing 1-2 cause, against the Pharaohs of Egypt, in their first match at the festival, in Tunisia in 2004.

In the following match, against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, Ndlovu became the first, and only Warrior, to score twice, in a match, at the AFCON finals.

When he finally retired from international football, after the 2006 Nations Cup finals, Ndlovu handed over the national team captaincy to Benjani.

Speaking during a Sky Sports television magazine programme, which is broadcast around the world, Benjani showered Ndlovu with a lot of praise.

He even named the former Warriors skipper in his Best XI Team, picked from the stars, whom Benjani has watched playing.

That team has Joe Hart in goals, Bacary Sagna, Philipe Mexes, Vincent Kompany and Matt Taylor in defence, Stephen Ireland, Sulley Muntari and Elano in midfield and Nwanko Kanu, Craig Bellamy and Ndlovu in attack.

He said it would be coached by legendary Frenchman, Guy Roux, the man who spent more than 40 years coaching and managing French club, AJ Auxerre, where Benjani exploded, to catch the interest of English clubs.

The Best XI Team, which he faced, has Petr Cech in goal, Emmanuel Eboue, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Ashley Cole in defence, Steven Gerrard, Cesc Fabregas and Claude Makelele in midfield and Cristiano Ronaldo, Thierry Henry and Didier Drogba in attack.

Benjani said Ndlovu was special.

“He used to score every time he came to the national team,’’ he said. “That’s why they gave him the nickname Nsukuzonke.

“In our language, in Ndebele, it means all the time, he was scoring.

“At some point he could play Saturday here in the Premier League and then the next Sunday, he would be wearing the Warriors colours.’’

Asked if he considered Ndlovu to be his hero, Benjani’s reply was emphatic.

“Of course,’’ he said.

“When he signed for Coventry, I was still at school, I was in Grade Seven, in fact, you know, everyone looked (towards Ndlovu), he was, I don’t know what to say.

“He scored a hat-trick at Anfield…it was a long standing record.’’

Benjani also spoke about his international career.

“Unfortunately, it came when I wasn’t ready,’’ he said. “When I didn’t even know what was going on in the national team.

“My first call-up came before I had even played in the Premier League in Zimbabwe so, by the time you realise it’s a big thing, to play for your national team, you know, it was too late.

“I was having about 10, 12 caps.’’

He also spoke about the 2006 Nations Cup finals.

“I was here (in England), when I signed for Portsmouth, I had to play a few games before I went to Egypt (for the 2006 AFCON finals).

“You want to go because it’s your country, I remember that time I was meant to join camp on the 14th and we had a game on the 18th, I think, or 17th.

“They (Portsmouth) had to hire a private jet for me, to play that game, and then go to Egypt.

“And, it was a shame, we lost that game five nil, or five one, and against Birmingham, so you would be like, why did they have to make me stay when we lose five nil, and pay for the private jet?

“But, those things happen.’’

He revealed that when his Portsmouth boss, Harry Redknapp, first told him Manchester City were interested in his services, his initial reaction was that the manager was probably trying to test his loyalty to Pompey.

But, eventually, when the Citizens sent through the contract details, Benjani realised this was real.

And, with only a few hours left on deadline day to fly to Manchester, to complete the deal, he found himself running out of time.

A taxi ride into London took him about two hours and when he finally arrived in Manchester, that’s when he started hearing stories of him missing his flights, after having slept at the airport.

Those stories, he claimed, were not entirely true.

He revealed he didn’t know the significance of scoring in the Manchester Derby until his debut goal, against the Red Devils, turned him into an instant hero, among the City fans.

Benjani also spoke about what he has been doing, of late.

“Recently, I was with the national team, as an assistant coach,’’ he said. “Unfortunately, I was assisting the manager that got sacked like into my first two games,

“Then, I was caught up in-between and I was also sacked, as well, it’s interesting.’’