Mwaruwari to commit future to Portsmouth

Mwaruwari to commit future to Portsmouth

• Mwaruwari cuts holiday to play in Kanu fundraiser

• Mwaruwari named skipper, scores for Pompey

By Sports Reporter

BENJANI Mwaruwari is ready to sign a two-year extension to his Portsmouth contract that will keep him at the club until 2011.

The £2,8 million deal could see the 29-year-old Zimbabwean skipper -- previously Pompey's highest paid player before the arrival of David James and Sol Campbell -- stay at the club for the rest of his career.

Mwaruwari said: "I have received an offer from Portsmouth and they want to extend my contract. I have said before that I want to stay here and work for the manager and the fans who have supported me since I arrived from France.

"We just need to agree on a few minor points but I am happy to commit my future to the club."

Mwaruwari was due to leave England on Monday for Zimbabwe to prepare for his country's June 2 make-or-break clash with Morocco in the race for a place at the African Cup of Nations.

The Warriors travel to Morocco knowing anything short of victory will end their dreams of playing at their third consecutive finals.

The reverse fixture was drawn 1-1, with the Warriors needing a late Esrom Nyandoro strike to draw level.

"I think Morocco are beatable," said Mwaruwari before leaving for Zimbabwe. "I can't say they outplayed us in the first leg, but of course they will go into this game as favourites.

"In a way, that releases pressure from us because we have nothing to lose when we go there on June 2. We should be able to throw everything we have at them because a draw may not be good enough.

"We will take that gamble, it's certainly worth a try given our position."

Zimbabwe are behind Malawi and Morocco in their three-team group in which only one team qualifies. But a win in Morocco could bring the Warriors right back into the equation.

Mwaruwari expects to sign his new Portsmouth deal when his team regroups for the next premiership campaign on July 7.

The Zimbabwe skipper has just over a month left for his holiday and expects to visit his teammate Nwankwo Kanu in Nigeria before the summer break ends.

"Kanu has stayed at my house in South Africa and he wants me to return the favour by going to Nigeria sometime in the next month. We are good friends now and look out for each other," he revealed.

Kanu, who played for a Portsmouth XI against a Friends of Kanu XI on Sunday which they lost 7-5, also wants to visit Zimbabwe, and says he has been nudging Mwaruwari to extend an invitation.

The jocular Nigerian, named King Kanu during his time at Arsenal told New Zimbabwe.com: "This man is the Zimbabwean King. He hosted me in South Africa, but I want to go to Zimbabwe."

Kanu has been stalling on signing a new one-year deal offered by Portsmouth, but both players know they are critical to the club's dreams of playing in Europe next season.

Said Mwaruwari: "When I came here, Portsmouth were a club playing to beat relegation. But things have changed, everyone here feels that we should be playing for Europe. We nearly did it this season but picked up a few bad results in the run-in which cost us.

"We have a chance to correct this next season and hopefully Kanu will stay to help us achieve that. He has been a key player for us, and the club recognises that."
JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS
ozzie@newzimbabwe.com