End of an international era for Benjani with Zimbabwe

Blackburn striker Benjani Mwaruwari has announced his retirement from international football.
The 32-year-old feels he must give up his commitments with Zimbabwe in order to focus fully on his club career.
The former Manchester City and Portsmouth forward only penned a one-year deal with Blackburn in the summer and knows he must make a positive impression at Ewood Park if he is to earn an extension.
With that in mind, Benjani has decided that his outing in Sunday's goalless draw with Cape Verde will be his last for his country.

"After the game I went to speak with (team coach) Norman (Mapeza) and thanked him for giving me a chance to play in the game against Cape Verde and that I was sorry we couldn't do enough to win the game and get maximum points," Mwaruwari said in the Herald newspaper.
"I still have a few more years playing club football, but I feel that I have done my part for my country, and it's sad that things didn't work out the way we wanted and probably I didn't get the number of goals that the supporters wanted me to score."
While Benjani feels he could have done more for Zimbabwe, he steps aside having scored 29 goals in 44 appearances.
He will also be relinquishing the captain's armband, having been named national skipper in 2006.

**Published in "Sky Sports.com"