Benjani Mwaruwari was born on 13 August 1978 and is a Zimbabwean former professional footballer who played as a striker.
25 Facts About Benjani Mwaruwari
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Benjani Mwaruwari signed with Premier League club Portsmouth in 2006, then went on to play in England's top flight for Manchester City, Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers before returning to Portsmouth in 2011.
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From 1999 to 2010, Benjani Mwaruwari played a total of 31 times for the Zimbabwe national team and played at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations.
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Benjani Mwaruwari came to Jomo Cosmos after impressing in a friendly match between South Africa and Zimbabwe in 1999.
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Benjani Mwaruwari was loaned to Swiss club Grasshopper Club Zurich in 2001.
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Benjani Mwaruwari had a good run at the start, capitalising from Djibril Cisse's absence, becoming top goalscorer in Ligue 1.
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Benjani Mwaruwari played as a substitute in the final as they won the tournament two years earlier in 2003.
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Benjani Mwaruwari failed to score in his first fourteen games for the club, but became a crowd favourite because of his high workrate and assists for other players.
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Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp banned Benjani Mwaruwari from taking any further penalties after he missed a spot-kick in second-half injury time in a home game against West Ham United.
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Benjani Mwaruwari scored the second goal from a header in his first Manchester derby.
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Benjani Mwaruwari scored again in the UEFA Cup with an away goal against Schalke 04.
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Benjani Mwaruwari entered talks with Hull City over a transfer to the club in August 2009, but negotiations ended after he failed to agree personal terms.
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Benjani Mwaruwari was linked with a return to former club Portsmouth as well as West Ham and Stoke City of the Premier League and League Two club Notts County.
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On 8 June 2010, it was announced that Benjani Mwaruwari's contract had expired and that he would be leaving the club, along with Sylvinho, Karl Moore and Martin Petrov.
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On 2 February 2010, Benjani Mwaruwari moved to Sunderland on loan until the end of the season, after the Premier League confirmed that the paperwork had been completed before the transfer deadline.
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On 21 July 2011, Benjani Mwaruwari declined the new contract terms offered to him by Rovers and left the club.
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On 13 August 2011, it was announced that Benjani Mwaruwari had re-signed for Portsmouth.
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Benjani Mwaruwari played less under manager Michael Appleton and could not produce his form like he did in his previous spell at Portsmouth.
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On 1 October 2012, it was announced that Benjani Mwaruwari had joined Supersport United on a one-year deal.
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On 27 February 2013, it was announced that Benjani Mwaruwari had joined Chippa United on a deal until the end of the season.
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Chippa United Head of Communication, Lukanyo Mzinzi confirmed that Benjani Mwaruwari would move to Chippa, and revealed they have the option to renew Benjani Mwaruwari's contract, that expires at the end of the current season.
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Benjani Mwaruwari made his debut on 6 March 2013 against Kaizer Chiefs.
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Benjani Mwaruwari is an academy coach with Plymouth Argyle.
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Benjani Mwaruwari is a former captain of the Zimbabwe national team, having taken the armband from former Coventry City, Birmingham, Sheffield United and Huddersfield Striker Peter Ndlovu when he retired from international football after the 2006 African Cup of Nations.
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Benjani Mwaruwari is the third Zimbabwean to play in the Premier League after goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar, who played for Liverpool, and Peter Ndlovu, who played for Coventry City and Sheffield United amongst others.