Zimbabwe national team captain Benjani Mwaruwari says he has two more years to play international soccer.
The 30-year-old Warriors skipper has been heavily criticised for both his failure to score in four matches in the 2010 World Cup/ African Cup of Nations qualifiers and his leadership role as the team stumbles from one bad result to the other.
“I will continue playing for the national team for at least two more years regardless of whether I’m scoring goals or not.”
Benjani and his Warriors are third in Group Two of the qualifiers and could crash out of contention if they lose to Guinea in Harare on September 6. Kenya beat Namibia in Nairobi.
score drought
The Manchester City dreadlocked striker and France’s Auxere has not scored for the Warriors for two years now — his last goal coming at the 2006 African Cup of Nations finals in Egypt when Zimbabwe beat Ghana 2-1 in the final Group D game on January 31.
Benjani revealed that he was not happy with his lengthy goal drought — a key factor that the fans blame for the Warriors’ poor showing in the current qualifiers.
But he says this is not the time to bury heads into the sand in shame, but for the Warriors to rise, like a Phoenix from the ashes, and be counted in Group Two.
“We can still progress to the next round if we win the two remaining games. Of course, we will be out if we don’t beat Guinea at home and it’s something we are well aware of.”
He said he was aware of the criticism that is being directed at him in particular, and the national team in general, by its loyal fans.
“I know people are saying a lot of things after the game against Kenya and we have to respect their views. If things change for the better, the very same people will be leading in praising us”
On his goal drought he : “It’s not like I don’t want to score, but things are just not happening for me and hopefully I will get it right soon.”
