Andrew
Langton Nyakwenda
WARRIORS hopeful and former Celtic midfielder, Kundai Benyu, has been listening to a lot of local Urban Grooves vibes, as he seeks inspiration to work his way back to his best.
The England-born Zimbabwean midfielder has been blown away by Nutty O’s popular track ‘Handipere Power’, a song that he always plays when he is working out in the gym.
Now 24, and fresh from a dance with Icelandic second-tier side, Vestri, Benyu is back in the United Kingdom where he is training under Manchester-based renowned fitness coach, Wayne Richardson.
Richardson has worked with more than 5 000 footballers, including Manchester United forward Jesse Lingard, ex-Manchester City striker, Mario Balotelli, and former Nigerian international, Odion Ighalo.
According to his UK-based handlers, Benyu is still determined to fulfil his dream of representing Zimbabwe in competitive matches.
Benyu only played for Zimbabwe in a friendly match against Lesotho in Maseru back in November 2017.
He was named in the Warriors provisional squads during the African Cup of Nations qualifiers, but it is unclear if the former Ipswich Town linkman has made the enlarged squad for the AFCON finals set for Cameroon next month.
Benyu’s handlers, SRV Sports Group, have enlisted the services of renowned fitness and mental coach Richardson as part of a grand plan to catapult the player’s fortunes.
“Kundai (Benyu) has been training with the best fitness coach in the United Kingdom that is Wayne Richardson.
“Richardson helped revive Jesse Lingard’s career, he also worked with Ighalo during his brief stint with Man United as well as a number of UK-based football stars,” said Solomon Mhlaba of SRV Sports Group.
Richardson offers not just one-to-one fitness coaching, but also sports mentoring and mental coaching.
He has also worked with former West Brom striker, Saido Berahino.
“Kundai has been working hard, there are a number of moves lined up for him this coming January, and we are making sure he stays in top shape.
“The boy is also determined to play for Zimbabwe. That is the other thing that is motivating him to work the way he has been for the past weeks. He is frustrated, he didn’t play a role in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers, but he is not losing hope.
“He is listening to Zimbabwean music a lot, and he says that’s the kind of music that motivates him,” said Mhlaba.
Once touted as a real gem by Brendan Rodgers, when the Leicester City coach was still with Scottish giants Celtic, Benyu’s career took a nosedive in recent years, with loan spells to English lower league sides dominating his CV.
Benyu also worked under former Barcelona striker, Henrik Larsson, at Helsingborg in Sweden in 2019 before sealing a deal with Vestri of Iceland.
He played 16 times for Vestri this season but according to the player’s handlers, there are some English clubs angling for the player’s signature.
Online Reporter