Mwaruwari: The truth about me and Peter

Mwaruwari: The truth about me and Peter

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By Sports Reporter

ZIMBABWE national soccer team skipper and Portsmouth striker Benjani Mwaruwari has spoken exclusively to New Zimbabwe.com about the hotel bust-up with Peter Ndlovu last week.

And while admitting that there is no love lost between him and the Mamelodi Sundowns man, Mwaruwari insists THERE WAS NO FIST FIGHT.

"It is true that I have clashed with Peter before over issues which are already in the public domain," Mwaruwari said Friday as he sought to put the record straight after days of speculation over what happened at the Harare Cresta Lodge's Room 105.

"It is, however, untrue that we fought last week. It follows then that there was no damage to any property.

"I read somewhere that the hotel staff said chairs and windows were broken. That's false."

Mwaruwari flew back to his Southampton base after Zimbabwe's 1-1 draw with Morocco in a crucial African Cup of Nations qualifier. Hours before the game, the Sunday newspapers splashed on the hotel fracas.

And South Africa's leading soccer magazine, Kick Off, quoting sources, said striker Gilbert Mushangazhike had pulled the players apart after finding Mwaruwari "over-powered".

Peter Ndlovu, who played for Coventry City in the English Premier League before stints at Birmingham, Huddersfield and Sheffield United had already denied a fight took place.

ZIFA bosses were waiting to be briefed by Charles Mhlauri and the Warriors' support staff over what happened before taking action. But Mhlauri has already indicated no action will be taken after meeting the two stars.

Mwaruwari will still not say what exactly to the "argument", as he referred to it, but he has told New Zimbabwe.com it was to do with football.

"He said a few upsetting things to people about me and my game. The things he said were totally out of order," said Mwaruwari.

Mwaruwari said a mutual friend, who fell out with Ndlovu, had exchanged text messages with the Mamelodi Sundowns striker. In the texts, Ndlovu wrote disparagingly about Mwaruwari, and his football career.

"So I went to his hotel room with this guy who is no longer friends with him and confronted him over what he was saying. He said he was sorry. There was no fight," he added.

Mwaruwari said they had clashed with Ndlovu previously over his approaches to his girlfriend, but insists "that was not the issue this time".

Repeated attempts to get comment from Ndlovu were fruitless last night, but he has already dismissed any suggestions that a fight took place.

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