BENJANI Jr, the son of former Warriors captain Benjani Mwaruwari has signed his first professional contract with English National League side Yeovil Town.
The 17-year-old striker joined the fifth-tier club as an academy player in January 2020 after leaving Portsmouth.
And the teenage sensation has been making considerable progress, making an instant impact in his first year in the EFL Youth Alliance League.
Last season, he scored 25 goals and managed 16 assists in 30 games for the Under-18s side, reminding many of his father Benjani — who earned the nick name “Undertaker” because of the manner in which he buried opponents under an avalanche of goals.
Benjani Jr has also enjoyed involvement with the first team, making his Somerset Premier Cup debut from the substitute’s bench.
Yeovil coach Chris Hargreaves spoke glowingly of the young forward.
“Firstly, I’d like to congratulate Benjani and his family on him signing his first professional contract. Following his excellent form for the Under-18’s, he has had a number of opportunities to train with the first team and has impressed all of our coaching staff,” Hargreaves told the local media.
“The signing is a testament to the excellent work going on within our EPDP scheme and the hard work by all associated with the programme.
“He will continue to play for Matt Percival’s Under-18’s side and train with the first team on a regular basis.”
The teenage prodigy is tipped to follow in the footsteps of his father Benjani, who made an explosive start in his debut season in France where he won rave reviews after joining from Swiss club Grasshoppers.
Benjani moved to French side AJ Auxerre in 2002 after one season with the Swiss club.
He did not take time to make an impact in Ligue 1 as he was voted player of the month in two successive months in September and October, overshadowing the likes of Chelsea legend Didier Drogba then playing for Guingamp and later Marseille.
His performances at Auxerre earned him a lucrative move to England where he played for Portsmouth and Manchester City.
The former Warriors forward, who has been working on his coaching badges, was in March this year appointed coach of Zimbabwean Premier Soccer League side, Ngezi Platinum, but was sacked barely three months into his contract after a difficult tenure at the club, where he managed three wins and six draws in his first 13 matches in charge.
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