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Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter
HE drew blanks in each of his first three games in both the 2018 and 2019 Premiership football seasons and even received yellow cards for varying offences in the field of play.
But, Herentals striker Tino Benza seems to have not only improved in his game but has matured as well and is even the man the Students are relying on in their attacking third.
Herentals have collected four points in their first three games this season after beating Harare City 1-0 before last week’s 0-3 clobbering at the hands of Ngezi Platinum with those games sandwiched by a 1-1 draw against bitter rivals Black Rhinos.
It is the 20-year-old Benza, who has also made history by becoming the first player to line up in the same team with his father, Innocent (49), who scored the all-important goal that buried Harare City in the opening game and also engineered the goal scored by Avi Mataranyika in the 1-1 draw against Black Rhinos.
So hard-working has been Tino, he has recorded a total of eight shots at goal in those three matches and his coach Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva believes now is the right time for the lanky forward to explore his talent in Portugal. Benza may have played his last match against Ngezi Platinum, especially if, which is most likely, the local league decides to suspend fixtures, as he is scheduled to join a yet-to-be-name Portuguese Second Division side.
“I think he has made some good strides in his growth both as a person and as a player. He has shown that he is hungry for success and this is not the Tino we were used to see in the past. He was good of course but look, he was still very much young,” said Mutiwekuziva.
“But, we are now seeing a different Tino, thanks to the hard work he is always putting at training. He is one boy who you see staying behind training and going for the extra. He is also very much keen on learning as most of his spare time is spent watching football.
“I am very much confident he will make an impression at the Portuguese side he is joining this coming January. As a team, we will miss him but it is also good for his career progression. I am not at liberty to name the team he is joining but only to say he is going to a Second Division side which is very competitive.”
Mutiwekuziva said he will be forced to go to the market for a striker in January. Benza (Snr) and Blessing Majarira will be the only forwards left at the club if Tino leaves with Archmore Majarira currently playing for the Herentals development side in the First Division.
Online Reporter