In a world where professional footballers are often considered veterans by thirty and "retired" by thirty-five, Innocent Dambudzo Benza is not just breaking the rules—he is rewriting the entire playbook.
As the sun set over the Rufaro Stadium on April 7, the 54-year-old businessman, politician, and striker stood on the touchline ready to make history.
With his latest run onto the pitch for Herentals College FC, Benza officially marked his 200th appearance in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League (PSL).
At an age when most of his peers have long traded their boots for boardroom, Benza remains the oldest active player in top-flight football globally, proving that passion is the ultimate antidote to the passage of time.
“I am going to play football for as long as my legs can carry me,” said Benza as he celebrated his 200th match in the PSL on Tuesday.
Benza’s journey is unconventional by any standard.
He didn’t make his top-flight debut as a teenager with stars in his eyes. Instead, he began his PSL career in 2017 at the age of 45.
Benza attributes his staying power to a rigorous daily training regimen and a mindset he calls "passion over position."
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“I love this game so much and I train every day to condition my body and also follow a strict diet,” he said.
Former Herentals coach, now with Ngezi Platinum Stars, Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva who handed Benza his PSL debut at 45 described benza as dedicated player.
“Time flies. I remember when we gave him his debut in 2017 when we got promoted into the PSL and before he had played a crucial role in our promotion featuring for the team for two seasons in the first Division.
He is a strong man and keeps going, I was quite happy with his love for the game.
“I know his dedication and commitment to the game, so it is not surprising that he has reached his 200th match in the top flight" Mutiwekuziva stated.
Herantals coach, Paul Benza described the 54-year old leadership qualities to the team.
“Being part of the team, he plays a double role, giving instructions to players while also playing at the same time.
“He is more than a player to us, and his leadership qualities have been key to our success,” said the Herantals gaffer
Benza’s 200th match was not just a personal milestone, but his true legacy is the sustainable football ecosystem he has built around Herentals FC.
He owns Herentals FC, Herentals U20, four Division Two sides, and the 2023 Women's Soccer League champions, Herentals Queens.
“I don’t really expect rewards when I do things and I love sport and draw a lot of joy seeing people enjoying themselves playing sport,” said Benza.
His schools and colleges have established academies across various codes, driven by the philosophy that academic talent isn't the only path to success.
“Our desire is to give each and every one a chance to showcase his or her talent.
"We understand that it is not everyone who is academically talented, hence we try to have our children pursue their talents within sport.”
As a businessman and politician, he intends to use his platform to be the "voice of sport" in Parliament.
His goal is to push for policies that will see Zimbabwe become a multi-sport powerhouse.
“I want to give sport a voice in parliament and hopefully things will move the way sport stakeholders want to see them moving,” he says.
