A former Jomo Cosmos striker is working tooth and nail to step into Benni McCarthy’s coaching path in England.
Zimbabwean Benjani Mwaruwari has revealed his admiration for the former Bafna Bafana star, Benni, who is doing exceptionally well at Manchester United.
Mwaruwari had a rather false start to his coaching career in Zimbabwe. He failed to last the distance in his first coaching job at Ngezi Platinum in Zimbabwe.
He had been given a four-year contract by the ambitious club last year as he replaced ex-Black Leopards gaffer Rodwell Dhlakama.
But it was terminated due to poor results at the club. The former Jomo Cosmos and Manchester City forward, Mwaruwari, said that he has left behind all the memories of the failed stint.
WHY THE FORMER JOMO COSMOS STAR ADMIRES BENNI McCarthy
And his eyes are on reviving his coaching career by using Benni McCarthy’s coaching path as his model.
The former Manchester City forward relocated to England, where he has already had a number of coaching interviews.
“When you see one of our great players in Africa doing well, it inspires all of us, and you want to be in that group as well. Being in that group is not easy,” said Mwaruwari.
“Everyone is happy for McCarthy [Benni], and he is inspiring everyone, including myself. I played in the Premier League, and I want to be up there with Benni.
“The key is to keep on working harder until you get there. My family is here, so I am based here in England. I have been doing my coaching badges, and I am looking for a club to coach.
“I had an operation [on the neck], but I have a few offers. As soon as I get better, I’ll consider one or two.
“I have [Union of European Football Associations] UEFA A License, so I need to do the Pro License. I am working on it.”
MWARUWARI’S REFLECTION ON HIS FIRST COACHING GIG
The 45-year-old believes his botched stint at Ngezi Platinum all but horned him to follow Benni McCarthy’s coaching path.
“He believes that he did well at Ngezi Platinum and needed more time to get the desired results, which he was, however, not afforded,” he added.
“As a coach, you want to be a top coach. But we, as former players, tend to rush it. I will speak for myself because I had an opportunity to coach when a top club in Zimbabwe came, so I grabbed it.
“In my view, I think I did well, but football is a game of numbers. What I wanted to do didn’t materialise.
“I needed time to do my own things, but it’s different bosses and different visions. I was meant to be given time, but it went the other way.
“So I am here in England, and I am trying to learn more, whether it’s in the academy or in the first team as a coach or as an assistant coach. Hopefully, I can get one of those, and I will learn more.”
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