adminleft the club in June 2010, after having laid the foundation for City to break the shackles from rivals Manchester United. On his debut for Manchester City on February 10, 2008, Mwaruwari scored the winner in their 2-1 victory over United and it marked the first time in 36 years that City had won the league derby.
And four years later, Roberto Mancini’s charges pipped Manchester United to the English Premiership title on a dramatic final day last Sunday.
Manchester City literally snatched a victory from the jaws of a defeat as they beat Queens Park Rangers 3-2, coming from behind to score two goals in stoppage time as Manchester United had appeared on course for a record 20th English Premiership title.
After City, Mwaruwari went on to play for Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers and Portsmouth but the former Warriors skipper is sharing City’s greatest moment.
“To me the win by Manchester City is a very special one.
“I was part of the team before and I played my part during my time.
“Even after I left, I always feel that Pompey (Portsmouth) and Manchester City are my teams in England,” said Mwaruwari. Mwaruwari said the script of his life could have been different if he had remained at Manchester City up to this day.
“Of course I wish I had remained to win the championship.
“It’s every player’s wish to get the title but unfortunately things do not always work out like that and I had to move on,” said Mwaruwari.
The former Grasshoppers and Auxerre forward shares the joy of success with his former City team-mates.
“I am just happy for Manchester City. It was good for a change for them to win (the English Premiership title),” he said.
At least for now, Manchester City have silenced their neighbours and Mwaruwari still remembers stunning Sir Alex Ferguson’s side on his debut.
“The rivalry between Manchester City and Manchester United is so intense. This is much so because the clubs come from the same city.
“I know the tight security on the games between these two clubs,” said Mwaruwari.
The former Zimbabwe international, who is back home preparing for his testimonial match, said he never knew that he had broken the hearts of the Red Devils when he made his debut for Manchester City.
“I had a great start for Manchester City and I scored the winning goal against Manchester United.
“I did not know the significance of that goal until the morning of the next day when the media was saying that it was the first time in 36 years that City had beaten United in a league game.
“So I then realised that I had scored an important goal. Now the 44-year wait for the title is over and I am happy for them,” Mwaruwari said.
Kolo Toure, who played a key role in Manchester City’s league success, could be heading to Harare next week as he is one of the 25 stars lined up for the Benjani
Mwarurari Testimonial match.
The match, set for the National Sports Stadium next Saturday, will see the former Air Zimbabwe Jets forward featuring for the Warriors in the first half and them joining his friends in the other half.
Among the high profile stars set to come for the match will be Tottenham Hotspur’s Emmanuel Adebayor and former Nigerian skippers Jay Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu.
Ghana’s Stephen Appiah and his Black Stars colleague John Mensah, Cameroon’s Alex Song, Emmanuel Eboue of Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal’s Kalou Fadiga, former South Africa captain Lucas Radebe, Pascal Chimbondah and Stephen Pienaar of South Africa are also billed to play at the National Sports Stadium next Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Northern Region have named their squad for the team to feature in the curtain-raiser for the Benjani Mwaruwari testimonial match at the National Sports Stadium next week.
The team comprises a cross-section of players from the old generation of the late 1960s up to the generation of the likes of Alois Bunjira, Lloyd Chitembwe and Gilbert Mushangazhike, who hung up their boots in the 2000s.
Record Soccer Star of the Year award winner George Shaya, who made his name during the 1970s, was also included in the 33-member squad.
The Northern Region Legends squad will meet at Alex Sports Club in Harare on Tuesday at 2pm for their first training session.
The Southern Region squad was named last week and has such legends as the Ndlovu brothers Peter, Adam and Madinda, Willard Mashinkila-Khumalo, Ronald Sibanda, Makwinji Soma-Phiri, Rahman Gumbo, Zenzo Moyo and Tobias Mudyambanje.
Legends Squads
Northern Region Legends: Gift Muzadzi, Brenna Msiska, Raphael Phiri, Stanley Chirambadare, Charles Sibanda, Norman Mapeza, John Phiri, Misheck Chidzambwa, James Bvumbi, Jack Mutandagayi, Albert Mabika, Masimba Dinyero, Lloyd Chitembwe, Shepherd Muradzikwa, Erick Aisam, Hamid Dhana, Moses Chunga, Stanford “Stix” M’tizwa, Alois Bunjira, Jimmy Mbewe, Henry Chari, Carlos Max, Charlie Jones, George Rollo, Simon Chuma, Ephert Lungu, Joseph Zulu, Wonder Phiri, Maronga Nyangela, Gift Makoni, David Mandigora, George Shaya, Anthony Kambani, Gilbert Mushangazhike.
Southern Region Legends:
Coaches: Gibson Homela, Ali Dube.
Team manager: Ernest Sibanda.
Medic: Emmett Ndlovu.
Goalkeepers: Muzondiwa Mugadza, Peter Nkomo.
Defenders: Ephraim Chawanda, Dazzy Kapenya, Douglas Mloyi, Henry Mckop, Gift Lunga (Junior), Paul Gundani, Bekithemba Ndlovu, Master Masiku.
Midfielders: Willard Khumalo, Ronald Sibanda, Joel Luphahla, Nation Dube, Godfrey Paradza, Makwinji Soma-Phiri, Rahman Gumbo, Richard Choruma.
Strikers: Zenzo Moyo, Agent Sawu, Adam Ndlovu, Madinda Ndlovu, Majuta Mpofu, Tobias Mudyambanje.
Online Reporter