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This has earned Mwaruwari praises from many Zimbabweans.
The former Warriors captain decided to launch his foundation in style with a match between the Warriors and his friends who included Lua Lua, Yakubu, El Hadji Diouf — who endeared himself to the fans with some amazing tricks on our Warriors defenders — Kanu, Aaron Mokoena and Lucas Radebe on Saturday.
There was a dinner held in Mwaruwari’s honour on Friday night which drew a packed house with tickets going for $1 500 per table.
Journalists from Europe and South Africa attended the match which was also used by a sportswear company from Germany, Asper, to market itself in this part of the world.
The Benjani Mwaruwari Foundation will incorporate a soccer academy and will also run a junior soccer tournament.
A fortnight ago, the inaugural junior soccer tournament sponsored by the former Portsmouth and Manchester City forward was held under the auspices of the Bulawayo Junior Soccer League headed by Mkhululi Mthunzi.
As if that was not enough, Mwaruwari sponsored a match between guys he grew up playing with and those that he idolised pitting the two regions’ (North and South) selects.
He paid for the teams’ preparations, transport and camping. The former Warriors skipper even gave them some tokens of appreciation like cash, playing kit and tracksuits.
Barry Daka, one of the most successful players and coaches to emerge from Bulawayo, praised Mwaruwari for his gesture. He said a testimonial was long overdue in the country and he hopes these will be a regular feature in honour of stars even at club level.
“This is very good. He has brought some big names from overseas that we would not have been able to meet ordinarily. One thing that I am happy about is that I have met people I played with that I had not seen for a while including the players. This has been a good weekend for me for sure,” said Daka.
Daka played for Highlanders, Hwange and Olympics. He won the Rothmans Shield with Olympics and virtually everything Zimbabwean soccer had to offer with Highlanders.
He had good stints with national teams at Under-20, Under-23 and senior level.
Ephert Lungu, undoubtedly one of the best players to don the Warriors jersey from Rio Tinto, a formidable team that was based at Cam and Motor Mine (Kadoma), was there too. He is a former Warriors captain.
He said he was happy to see some players like Daka, Douglas Mloyi, Godfrey Paradza, Ephraim Chawanda, Peter Nkomo and Weekly Mwale.
“It has been a very long time. This shows the strength of sport in uniting people. I am today with my former teammate at Rio Tinto Raphael Phiri and many other players of our time,” said Lungu.
Phiri also said he was happy to be in Harare among his peers and younger generations.
“This is probably the fifth generation of players from our time. It is nice to meet some great names we grew up with and played against. We were also with some young players who played after our time. This was good for football and we wish more players could emulate Benjani,” said Phiri.
Paradza, a star defender with Highlanders’ famed junior team of the early 1980s which was christened Liverpool, before moving to Zimbabwe Saints, Darryn T and Dynamos, lauded Mwaruwari for his gesture.
“We are proud that from Bulawayo we have Benjani. He has done well to prepare for his exit from the game and the future by having this match. It is like we are going down memory lane when we meet guys like Moses Chunga, Jack Mutandagari, John Phiri, Brenna Msiska, to mention a few. We had good times on the field and today we are chatting and looking back,” said Paradza.
Another former Warriors and Saints great, Chawanda, said he was happy to be meeting his old friends. He said more such gatherings should be organised.
Among the weekend’s funny moments were those when former players were taunting Msiska about the use of juju.
“Haandina friendly match, I will go and sort out my things,” he said amid laughter from former players.
It was really a good outing for the former players.
Richard Choruma, who with Ronald Sibanda slit through the Harare Select midfield with so much ease, said Mwaruwari had raised the bar.
“He has left a legacy in Zimbabwe football. This kind of thing had never happened and we hope to see many more. It does not have to be internationals even local club greats can be honoured that way. This could turn out to be a welcome gesture for a retiring player who could get a couple of dollars to set himself up outside football. We cannot all be coaches,” said Choruma an outstanding midfielder during his days with Phinda Mzala, Air Zimbabwe Jets and Highlanders.
Choruma retired at the end of last year and is now based in South Africa where he runs a catering business with friends.
Dumisani Mpofu, a former Young Warriors and Warriors defender, said he was happy with his teammate’s gesture.
“It’s just the way it should have gone for our stars from far back. It’s a well done to Benjani and friends for this,” said Commando, as he was affectionately called by his teammates and fans.
Mkhuphali Masuku, a close confidant of Mwaruwari, said his friend had done the nation proud with the launching of his foundation and by bringing international superstars to the country.
In a brief chat before the match, former Zifa chief executive officer, Henrietta Rushwaya, whose committee worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the match took place, said she was happy that the match was a success.
“We are so happy for Benjani, this is a first for the country, congratulations to him,” she said.
Online Reporter