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The journey has been long for Benjani, a journey that took him from Bulawayo to Chegutu, Harare, Johannesburg (SA), Switzerland, France and finally England, yet he still remains humble about his success, in spirit, materially, soccer wise and financially. In England, he played for a number of teams like Portsmouth, Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland.
This year’s Africa Day holiday will always stand out because of the buzz created by the Testimonial match and the international football icons like Nwankwo Kanu, Alex Song, Kolo Toure, Christopher Samba, John Mensah,Doctor Khumalo, Stephen Pienaar and Lucas Radebe, among others who are set to feature in the testimonial match.
The trip for the game started yesterday from Bulawayo, where Benjani was born and bred with hundreds of former football players, fans and hordes of scribes travelling to the capital to share the great moment with their homeboy. No one has ever done it and we salute Benjani for breaking new ground. A lot has been said about Benjani’s carreer, who leaves Portsmouth in a few weeks and sets his sights elsewhere, but it’s his weekend and there is no harm in visiting his interview with online newspaper New Zimbabwe.com where he revealed a lot about himself.
Born: August 13, 1978
Home Town: Bulawayo
Marital Status: Married to Thembi.
Briefly, tell us where it all started, and how you got here?
I first played for Young Blood, a junior team in Bulawayo (Magwegwe), and then I moved to Highlanders and played in the reserve side. I joined Lulu Rovers (Chegutu), and then moved to the University of Zimbabwe before a stint at Air Zimbabwe.
I was on the verge of joining AmaZulu in 1999 but I was called up for the Zimbabwe national team which played at Thabo Mbeki’s inauguration in South Africa. I played well in the game and I was approached by Jomo Sono who signed me for Jomo Cosmos.
I didn’t stay long there as I soon moved to Grasshoppers Zurich in Switzerland. A move to Auxerre in France followed. Harry Redknapp signed me for Portsmouth in 2006 and a few years later, I went to Manchester City.
What did you want to be when you were little?
I never really wanted to be anything … You can say I had no serious ambition. Some kids had all these grand ambitions of being doctors and so on, but I never really set myself a target. I was just floating along.
What were you like at school?
I was always an athlete at primary school. I enjoyed running, long jump and football. I did everything, I was a real athlete and I was quick. I think I set the 100m and 200m records at Mhali Primary School in Bulawayo.
I lost interest in athletics when I got to secondary school, because I became hooked on football. At that time, I was inspired by Ian Wright. I followed his career like religion, and I admired his natural goal scoring ability. I guess that makes me an Arsenal supporter, yes I was!
What would you say has been the highlight of your career?
I think more than anything else I would say playing for all these years in Europe. It’s the hardest thing to break into European teams and I have managed it in four teams. I have scored some memorable goals along the way. Two goals stand out — one scored against Barcelona when I was still at Grasshoppers, and the other for Jomo Cosmos against Kaizer Chiefs. The goals were almost similar in that I just stepped out of the centre circle and struck the ball sweetly into the nets. I also had the chance to captain my national team.
What habit do you wish you could change?
I am always sleeping when I have nothing to do. When I do have some things to do, I am usually tired.
How do you deal with anger and what gets you upset?
That’s my other problem. I have a short temper, but now I am trying to be calmer. There are a lot of things that get me upset, because usually when you have a short temper, you easily get angry at the slightest provocation. Sometimes you get upset but handle it better. I guess it goes with patience, I have no patience. When I want something, I want it done there and then. I don’t want to wait.
What are you most afraid of?
Ships and planes! I use planes because there is no other means, but flying wrecks my nerves. With ships, I tell myself that if there is any funny mishap, then I am dead because I am a very bad swimmer. So before going on one, I would be thinking what will happen if it sinks?
If your house burnt down, what would you save?
My phone and passport. Invaluable.
How would you describe yourself in a personal ad?
I am very, very shy and you know when you are shy, you are also quiet. I like being where the people are, because I grew up among people. I am very sociable and easy going.
How is your love life?
I am married to Thembi and we have four kids — Colines, Benjani Junior, Belle (which is French for Beauty) and Tiyezhe who was born in January.
What’s your idea of a sexy woman?
Someone like Angelina Jolie. Perhaps I would do myself a favour by saying someone like my wife!
When you stop playing, how are you going to spend your time?
I want to raise my kids until they are employed and able to fend for themselves. I want them to have a better childhood than I had and a good life. I also plan to have a football academy in Zimbabwe for our promising young players and hopefully get them to play in Europe. There is no reason why we can’t have more Zimbabweans playing in the European leagues.
The interview was done when he was playing for Manchester City and the idea of an Academy seems to have become a reality now.
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