BENZA TURNED DOWN JOBS IN USA, UK, CANADA TO HELP DEVELOP LOCAL FOOTBALL

Tadious Manyepo

Zimpapers Sports Hub

HERENTALS chairman Tafadzwa Benza turned down three lucrative actuarial science overseas job offers to pursue his passion for football development in this country.

After scoring high in the BSc Actuarial Science at the Kent University in the UK, and following that up by scoring distinctions at Masters level at the University of London, Benza, who is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Strategic Management, found himself crowded with offers.

The offers came from the UK, Canada and the United States of America.

But the 29-year-old knew exactly what he wanted as he had convinced his father Innocent to establish the country’s biggest footballing institution that has seven professional clubs.

Herentals Queens have just won the league title for the third year running.

Benza has been the man behind the scenes running the institution which employs more than 700 players and support staff, over the past seven years.

On Monday, the biggest daily newspaper in the country, The Herald, honoured him with a special recognition in Outstanding Football Development Excellence during the inaugural Herald Community Heroes Awards at the Harare International Conference Centre.

An ecstatic Benza, who is running for a position on the ZIFA board during the January 25 elections, saluted The Herald for recognising his efforts to develop football.

“I am very happy to have been one of the recipients of these prestigious awards from the leading daily newspaper in the country.

“It gives me some sense of pride and ticks me into doing even greater things in football.

“I decided to lead the Herentals football institution, which has a club in the Premier Soccer League, three-time Women’s Soccer League champions, a Division One side, four Division Two teams in Harare, Rusape, Kadoma and Bulawayo, on top of a huge national academy.

“What I am particularly happy about the most is the fact that I am getting this recognition after I dropped several job offers, including from three overseas companies.

“What I always wanted was football administration. I am very happy to see girls from disadvantaged backgrounds making it through football.

“Mass participation and remuneration are key drivers to inclusivity and I am happy to have been recognised for doing what I love most.”