Portsmouth Football Club fights to keep Benjani

By Henry Makiwa
15 November 2007

Red-hot warriors skipper, Benjani Mwaruwari is set to be offered a new contract by Portsmouth Football Club, amidst speculation he is wanted by Italian giants Juventus.

With the January transfer window approaching, Portsmouth are under pressure to ward off vultures who are circling their Fratton Park home where the Zimbabwean striker has performed wonders this season. The 29-year-old currently leads the top scorers charts, with eight goals in the English Premiership.
Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp however insists that “The Undertaker”, as Benjani is known back home, is going nowhere. In fact, Pombey, as the team is known to its legions of supporters, will be awarding Benjani with a new contract.

Pompey's successful start to the season has alerted big spenders both at home and abroad to the talent on display at the South Coast club. Besides Juventus, Benjani is also believed to be on the “wanted list” of fellow premiership club, Sunderland.

Benjani has enjoyed a stunning start to the Premier League season, scoring eight goals for Pompey following a stuttering first 18 months at Fratton Park.

"Benjani is going nowhere," Redknapp said on Thursday after the striker was linked with Juventus.
"He is a big player for us, an important one. Peter Storrie (Portsmouth chief executive) is going to sit down with him and start talking about another contract.”