Benjani rated best striker in English premiership

By Lance Guma
05 October 2007

Zimbabwe warriors captain Benjani Mwaruwari is the best striker in the English Premiership according to Actim Stats, the official statisticians of the English top-flight league and Football Association. The system measures goals, shots on target, corners, fouls, passes, tackles, offsides, blocks and clearances and uses the results to determine player performance.

The top five strikers according to the index are Benjani on 150 points, Nicolas Anelka (146), Emmanuel Adebayor (145), Nwanko Kanu (118) and Robin Van Persie (116). The Zimbabwe and Portsmouth striker scored a sensational hatrick in a 7-4 demolition of Reading last week, and becomes the second highest scorer after Emmanuel Adebayor who plays for Arsenal.

In the overall player rankings Benjani is second only to Cesc Fabregas the midfield genius who has been at the heart of Arsenal’s impressive start to the season. In 7 appearances for Portsmouth, Benjani has produced 13 shots, 10 of which have been on target and a surprising 5 goals for a striker considered goal-shy.

His manager Harry Redknapp has always been a big admirer of his work rate and refused to sell him when French giants Marseille expressed an interest in taking the Zimbabwean back to the French league where he once played. Benjani nicknamed ‘Big Ben’ is the current fans favourite at Fratton Park.