Ex-Warriors leader Benjani Mwaruwari has commenced his path back to coaching by securing a position with the youth team of English Championship club Plymouth Argyle.
Mwaruwari was selected following a thorough evaluation of multiple candidates by the club. He is honing his coaching abilities under the guidance of esteemed academy coaches at Plymouth Argyle.
The ex-Warriors forward has already spent four months in the role, where he has been involved with age groups from Under 13s to 18s.
Mwaruwari’s initial coaching stint ended in less than six months, after he was handed a four-year contract by Ngezi Platinum Stars in 2022 to replace Rodwell Dhlakama.
During his time with Ngezi, the team competed in 13 matches, winning three, drawing six, and losing four, which led to the team falling out of contention for the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title. Consequently, the club opted to part ways with the former Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers player.
Following this disappointment, Mwaruwari returned to England to further enhance his coaching skills at the grassroots level.
Plymouth Argyle academy manager Phil Stokes explained to the club’s website that they brought in Mwaruwari with the aim of enhancing his coaching abilities and integrating him into the club’s framework.
“Benjani joined us earlier this season through the players to coaches scheme, which is a collaborative effort involving the Professional Footballers Association, the Premier League, and the English Football League,” Stokes elaborated.
“Out of the six clubs selected for the program, we conducted interviews and Benjani emerged as the successful candidate. We’re thrilled to have him working directly with our young players.”
Stokes noted that the former Portsmouth striker has already made a positive impact on their attacking players.
“Given Benjani’s extensive experience at the highest levels of the game, particularly his understanding and knowledge of attacking play, he brings significant value. However, the primary focus of this scheme is to support Benjani in his coaching journey. This means he’ll be involved in coaching sessions across all stages, from the foundation level to the professional development phase, not just limited to attacking players. It’s all about aiding his progression.”
He intends to craft a development strategy that resonates with those around him, aiming to assist him as he progresses. Having observed the coaches at the academy and conducted training sessions, his goal is to eventually secure a position within Plymouth Argyle’s staff, possibly as a lead age group coach. Mwaruwari, inspired by the career trajectory of former Bafana Bafana striker Bennie McCarthy, now a coach at Manchester United, is grateful for the chance to learn from Plymouth Argyle’s coaching staff. He’s participating in a program for former players interested in coaching, driven by his passion for the game and desire to stay involved after retiring as a player. In his time with Plymouth Argyle, Mwaruwari has found the experience enriching, having worked with various age groups and contributing to the development of the Under 18 strikers in particular.”
enosden 