Zimbabwe/South Africa: Benjani, Family and Football

FORMER Zimbabwe captain Benjani Mwaruwari has strongly hinted that he will end his long and illustrious career at lowly South African Premiership side Chippa United insisting he is at the club more for the game than any financial rewards.

Benjani scored his first goal for Chippa United, who anchor the Absa Premiership standings, in a 2-1 losing cause to Golden Arrows on Wednesday night.

But the widely travelled forward, who at the prime of his career featured for reigning English champions Manchester City, had earlier told top-selling South African soccer magazine KickOff that he had committed to ending his career at Chippa United and was likely to stay at the Cape Town side even if they got relegated from the Premiership.

In a wide ranging interview with the magazine Benjani also spoke about the challenges that footballers often face ? that of finding themselves broke at the end of their careers despite having made millions during their playing days.

The forceful striker, who began his career with Highlanders juniors in Bulawayo, played for Chegutu Division One side Lulu Rovers and Air Zimbabwe Jets before breaking into the South African top-flight with Jomo Cosmos, has however invested in properties in Zimbabwe, France, England and South Africa.

With properties in his name in Johannesburg, Auxerre, Manchester and Portsmouth ? Benjani is to make a firm decision on where to settle when he eventually calls time on his game.

"I haven't made a final decision on that yet. I'm still caught in two minds.

"I know being born in Zimbabwe to Malawian parents and getting married to a South African with children born in South Africa, France and England sounds crazy but that is all part of my life," said Benjani.

Benjani, however, admitted that he too had been hooked to life in the fast lane that often traps top earning footballers but believes it is difficult to get out of this situation.

"All footballers are the same, it's like we are all cursed to behave this way. Very few of us invest money in sound businesses.

"With the kind of money we are earning I don't think it would be possible to play for a big club like Manchester City or Mamelodi Sundowns and then come to training driving a Toyota Conquest . . . we all want to drive something special.

Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201304060157.html

PSEG hocus pocus hocus pocus mta schedule PECO Hurricane Sandy update ellen degeneres