Kundai Benyu
Kundai Leroy Jeremiah Benyu (born 12 December 1997) is a professional footballer who last played as a midfielder for ÍBV. Born in England, he represents Zimbabwe at international level.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Kundai Leroy Jeremiah Benyu[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 12 December 1997[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Camden Town, England | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2007–2016 | Ipswich Town | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016–2017 | Ipswich Town | 0 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | → Aldershot Town (loan) | 23 | (5) |
| 2017–2020 | Celtic | 1 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | → Oldham Athletic (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2019 | → Helsingborg (loan) | 10 | (1) |
| 2020–2021 | Wealdstone | 12 | (0) |
| 2021 | Vestri | 16 | (0) |
| 2022 | ÍBV | 7 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2017– | Zimbabwe | 5 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 June 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 30 June 2023 | |||
Early life edit
Benyu was born to Zimbabwean parents on 12 December 1997 in Camden Town, London. He grew up in Harlow, Essex.[3]
Club career edit
Ipswich Town edit
Benyu joined Ipswich Town at the age of nine,[3] signing his first professional contract after turning 17.[4]
Aldershot Town (loan) edit
On 7 December 2016, Benyu joined Aldershot Town on a one-month loan deal.[5] The loan was subsequently extended several times, allowing Benyu to finish the 2016–17 season with the National League side.[6][7][8][9]
Celtic edit
On 29 June 2017, it was announced that Benyu had signed a four-year contract with Celtic.[10] The midfielder scored on his first appearance for the club's development squad, in a pre-season friendly against East Kilbride.[11] Benyu made his competitive debut in Celtic's 4–0 victory over Linfield at Celtic Park.[12]
Oldham Athletic (loan) edit
On 6 January 2018, Benyu joined Oldham Athletic on loan until the end of the 2017–18 season.[13] He made his league debut for the club on 13 January 2018 in a 1–1 home draw with Rotherham United. He was subbed off in the 74th minute, and replaced by Aaron Amadi-Holloway.[14]
Helsingborgs (loan) edit
Benyu joined Swedish club Helsingborg on a season-long loan in February 2019.[15]
Wealdstone edit
Benyu signed for Wealdstone on 2 October 2020.[16] On 19 February 2021, Benyu departed by mutual consent after making twelve league appearances for the club.[17]
Iceland edit
In February 2021, he has moved to Icelandic 1. deild side Vestri.[18] In May 2022, he moved up a division to join Besta-deild karla side ÍBV.[19]
International career edit
Benyu's impressive performances for Aldershot Town earned him international recognition, receiving a call-up from Zimbabwe for their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Liberia.[20]
He made his full international Zimbabwe debut in a 1–0 defeat to Lesotho in Maseru on 8 November 2017.[21]
Career statistics edit
- As of 10 January 2022[22]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Ipswich Town | 2014–15 | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015–16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2016–17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Aldershot Town (loan) | 2016–17 | National League | 22 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | 3[a] | 0 | 25 | 5 | |
| Celtic | 2017–18 | Scottish Premiership | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 2018–19 | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2019–20 | Scottish Premiership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| Oldham Athletic (loan) | 2017–18 | League One | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Helsingborg (loan) | 2019 | Allsvenskan | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | |
| Wealdstone | 2020–21 | National League | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| Vestri | 2021 | 1. deild karla | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 | |
| Career total | 25 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 73 | 6 | ||
- ^ Two appearances in the FA Trophy and one in the National League play-offs
- ^ Appearances in the Champions League
- ^ Appearances in the EFL Trophy
References edit
- ^ "Retained List 2016-17" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
- ^ a b "Kundai Benyu". 11v11. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
- ^ a b "Kundai: I was watching Cup final when I heard of Celtic's interest". Celtic FC. 1 July 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
- ^ @kundaibenyu_ (20 February 2015). "Today I signed my first professional contract with Ipswich Town, thank you everyone who congratulated me #itfc" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Shots agree to sign Tractor Boy Kundai". Aldershot Town. 7 December 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
- ^ "Kundai extends loan". Aldershot Town FC. 9 January 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
- ^ "Kundai extends loan". Aldershot Town FC. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
- ^ "Kundai extends loan". Aldershot Town FC. 5 March 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
- ^ "Benyu loan extended for rest of season". Aldershot Town FC. 30 March 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
- ^ "Celtic delighted to sign Kundai Benyu on four-year deal". Celtic FC. 29 June 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
- ^ "New Bhoy on target as young Celts enjoy pre-season triumph". Celtic FC. 8 July 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
- ^ "Celtic 4–0 Linfield". BBC Sport. 19 July 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
- ^ "Benyu moves to Oldham on loan". Celtic FC. 6 January 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
- ^ "Oldham Athletic vs. Rotherham United – 13 January 2018". Soccerway. Perform Group.
- ^ "Celtic midfielder Kundai Benyu joins Swedish side Helsingborgs on loan". Sky Sports. 26 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
- ^ Kundai Benyu: "The whole squad are a good bunch of lads"
- ^ "Benyu departs". Wealdstone FC. 19 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
- ^ "Kundai Benyu til liðs við Vestra" (in Icelandic). vestri. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
- ^ "FÓTBOLTI - KUNDAI BENYU TIL LIÐS VIÐ ÍBV" (in Icelandic). Íþróttabandalag Vestmannaeyja. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ "International call up for Kundai". Ipswich Town FC. 19 May 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
- ^ "Lesotho beat Zimbabwe in friendly". COSAFA. 9 November 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
- ^ Kundai Benyu at Soccerway. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
External links edit
- Kundai Benyu at Soccerway.com
- Kundai Benyu at WorldFootball.net
- Kundai Benyu at Soccerbase.com
- Kundai Benyu at National-Football-Teams.com
- Kundai Benyu at FBref.com