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Tadious Manyepo-Sports Reporter
INNOCENT Benza has been persecuted.
He stands accused of pursuing his passion by playing topflight football at the age of 50 years.
The Herentals forward has started 25 of the 31 games the Students have played this season.
He broke onto the scene with the promotion of Herentals in 2018 and he was called all sorts of names.
But his team has beaten all but one team in the Premiership since 2018 while he is in the field of play.
Sentiment has drastically changed especially after known vocal coaches who have always criticised him have become victims of the Students’ venom in the field.
Benza, who is also the Herentals president has now turned that general hatred into love especially with his deft touches.
He holds the record for the oldest goal scorer in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
The Rusape-born player achieved the feat at the age of 47 back in 2018 when he scored a screamer against Chapungu.
He has also become the oldest player in the history of the Premier League to lead a team into the final of a major tournament.
Herentals play Bulawayo Chiefs in the Chibuku Super Cup final at Barbourfields on November 19 and should the Students prevail, Benza’s name will be written in gold letters.
Benza said his secret lies in eating a healthy diet and discipline.
“I should have started playing professional football when I was about 16 years old. I was a good player and a lot of junior teams were interested in my services. But, I chose to pursue my business interests first,” said Benza.
“But I wasn’t totally divorced from football. I would play football for the love of the game,” said Benza.
“I then decided to turn professional when we formed Herentals Football Club about a decade ago. I am enjoying myself and the records I am posting as well. I will continue playing this game as long as my two legs can carry my body.”
Benza’s unique status is not a case in isolation though.
Today, an 81-year-old cyclist Wilson Boka is expected to hit the finish line together with 61 other tracers after completing a daunting 300km three-day Tour de Great Dyke event.
The race started on Thursday at the Zimplats Complex in Selous and the cyclists are expected to hit the finish point at Wedza Complex in Zvishavane today.
Organised by YAFM in association with Zimplats, Mimosa and Unki, the annual event is held to raise funds for charity as well as to promote wellness.
And strikingly, Boka, who is largely unheralded, has been part of this initiative since 2018.
He is the first ever Zimbabwean to complete a 300km race inside three days (with two nights breaks in between).
Boka has been cycling for the past 56 years. Born in Mozambique and raised in Zvishavane, the passionate athlete still holds the 10km, 3km and 800m time trial achieved back in the 1970s.
He notched 08min45sec in the 10km race, 1min18sec in the 800m event and 3min45sec in the 3km section.
Boka started serious racing upon his employment at Shabanie Mine in 1966 having been a footballer before becoming a boxer between 1961 and 1965.
“I was a footballer, playing for Maglas United as a striker between 1961 and 1963. Then I decided to become a boxer in the two years that followed. I had eight fights and I was victorious in all of them.
“At the same time, I was also winning cycling races which used to be held on Christmas Days at Shabanie.
“That is how I was noticed by mine officials who then employed me as a machine operator while also racing under their club.
“I enjoyed every bit of it and I won several accolades locally and internationally. Some of the legends who I was racing with include Samson Moyo. We used to be rewarded with blankets whenever we won races. I sired eight children, four boys and as many girls of which two are late. I now have 22 grandchildren and I tell you, almost every one of them has a blanket from me as a gift.”
The legendary racer said cycling in Zimbabwe is now on the growth trajectory and said the upcoming cyclists should also be afforded a chance to compete in other short races in the tracks rather than only endurance-based road races.
While he has been mostly out of competition due to lack of basics, Boka, who lives in Madamombe, Zvishavane with his wife Gogo Naome Boka (nee Moyo), he can now hope to come back into the track after Exide Batteries Managing Director Kudzi Pasipanodya pledged to buy a new racing bicycle.
Exide Batteries Zimbabwe is one of the major sponsors of the Tour de Great Dyke and they also pledged to install a solar system at Boka’s village homestead.
Cycling Zimbabwe head of technical Crosby Mashiri saluted Boka.
“We have a legend in our midst. We should tap a lot from him. We will do everything to support his vision,”he said.
Online Reporter