Benjani has Man City dressing room singing

Benjani has Man City dressing room singing

• Benjani completes City move

• Eriksson confident Benjani will join City

• Benjani's City transfer appears back on

• Benjani's move to Manchester City falls through

• Benjani to seal £9,7 million move to Manchester City

• Benjani fires ZIFA warning over coach

• Portsmouth open contract talks with Benjani

• Juventus set for £7 million Benjani raid

• Mwaruwari nets 8th league goal in Pompey romp

• Mwaruwari tops premiership scorers' charts

• Mwaruwari scores in Manchester United draw

• Mwaruwari fires Pompey into Asia Trophy final

• Mwaruwari sets Pompey target

By Sports Reporter

BENJANI Mwaruwari scored on his debut for Manchester City on Sunday, then hailed his new team-mates as the best passers of the ball he has ever played with.

He said: “I would probably say this is the only game I have played in, and come out not feeling tired.”

City beat Manchester United 2-1 at Old Trafford, completing a rare league double over their city rivals.

Mwaruwari completed his £9,7 million move from Portsmouth to Manchester City last week. The transfer fee has been staggered into two payments of half that amount each, with the final payment due when the striker notches 70 games.

City led Manchester United with a Darius Vassell goal after 24 minutes before Benjani struck what proved to be the match winner a minute before half time.

The Zimbabwean national skipper flicked on an angled cross from Petrov and the ball squeezed just inside the far post for his 13th league goal of the season.

It was Benjani’s second goal against Manchester United after another headed goal earlier in the season as Portsmouth drew 1-1 with United at Fratton Park.

Michael Carrick scored an injury-time face saver for United.

Mwaruwari told New Zimbabwe.com after the win that his new team-mates had taken him to heart, and he was keen to help the club’s quest for a European place finish.

He said: “The guys are totally amazing. Elano, especially, has really taken me to heart. What I find incredible is that the whole dressing room was singing to a song which Portsmouth fans used to sing for me… It’s a great feeling to experience the togetherness of this team.”

(The words to Benjani's Portsmouth song are: Benjani whoa/Benjani Whoa/He comes from Zimbabwe/He's gonna score today! CLICK HERE TO LISTEN)

HITMAN: Mwaruwari scored 13 league goal in 2-1 win over Manchester United on Sunday, February 10

The striker revealed he had visited the Portsmouth team hotel before their 1-0 victory over Bolton on Saturday, and his former team-mates couldn’t believe he was gone.

“I had become incredibly close to some of the boys, especially Kanu and he is still bewildered that I won’t play with them again. He sent me a text after scoring today and said he was delighted for me,” he revealed.

Mwaruwari also paid glowing tribute to manager Sven Goran Eriksson, describing him as the best tactician he has played under.

He said: “He rarely speaks, but he knows the game very well and he had a game plan. He made everyone watch a tape of the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal last week, pointed out the mistakes and then told us: If you repeat the same mistakes, or stray from the game plan, you will get beat again. Fortunately, everything went well for us.”

Eriksson praised Benjani after the game, describing him as "brilliant".

He said: "Benjani was absolutely brilliant. He scored a goal, kept the ball and when United had the ball he worked and worked. He's strong and quick and I'm very happy to have got him."

Mwaruwari is targeting at least five more goals this season for his new paymasters, and is sure he will get the chances.

“I would say apart from Arsenal and Manchester United, Manchester City are the best passers of the ball in the premiership. The way this team sets up gives me confidence I can go on and get a few more goals.”
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ozzie@newzimbabwe.com