admin“It would be good to see some Benjanis born from the event which we hope will be an annual event. The enthusiasm in Bulawayo junior football is very encouraging and I would want to be involved,” said the former Warriors captain.
He said a committee looking at preparations for what should be one of the biggest soccer games in the country pitting some of the biggest names in the game in the last 20 years, had explored all possible venues. The Portsmouth forward said the National Sports Stadium in Harare had been found to be ideal for the game in a number of ways.
The match is set for the giant National Sports Stadium on 26 May.
“The committee that is organising my charity game looked at a number of factors and found Harare to be ideal.
“I did not turn my back on my home town, I love Bulawayo and I am proud to have been raised by the community there. The people in Skies will always have a special place in my heart because they contributed something to my soccer career. It is where Benjani was born and nurtured as a soccer player and I can never turn my back on them,” said
Mwaruwari on Monday from his UK base.
The Portsmouth forward said one aspect that the committee considered was that the National Sports Stadium was a world class facility.
Mwaruwari said for most players and other interested parties from abroad, Harare was ideal in that there would not be any connecting flights required.
“Look, we have established that it is cheaper if you are up north to travel directly to Harare rather than via South Africa because when you use different airlines, it becomes expensive,” he said.
Mwaruwari said the issue of non-availability of domestic flights weighed heavily against Bulawayo as a venue.
He said the committee also considered the commercial side of the venture.
“Our organisers and their sponsors felt Harare was the ideal market hence the decision to settle for the National Sports Stadium,” he said.
The match is expected to attract players Mwaruwari played with in France, the UK, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Some of the names touted from across the Limpopo include Doctor Khumalo, Lucas Radebe and Steve Pienaar.
Jomo Sono will most likely sit on the internationals bench.
Other international soccer stars expected to play at the big match include Austin “Jay Jay” Okocha, his fellow countrymen Nwako Kanu, Daniel Amokachi, Zambia’s Kalusha Bwalya, Cameroonian Rigobert Song, Ivorian and Chelsea star Didier Drogba, among others.
Mwaruwari said the committee was looking at a number of activities related to the main event to be held in Harare.
He said this would be his last year in the UK leagues. He said if things went according to plan he will come back home and work on the Benjani Mwaruwari Academy.
“I intend retiring at the end of this season and coming home to work on the academy. I have a dream about developing talent,” said Mwaruwari.
Most players when they retire have found themselves thrown a bait they find difficult to resist — a multi-million dollar move to Asia.
Mwaruwari said he would consider a lucrative deal if one came along.
“At times with football you cannot shut the doors forever. I believe I am done with football in Europe but if something very good comes up, say in Asia, I could take it up,” he said.
Mwaruwari has been one of the country’s most high profile players. Only Bruce Grobbelaar and Peter Ndlovu, coincidentally both former Bulawayo and former Highlanders players, have played in the English elite league.
Online Reporter