Benjani Mwaruwari has retired from playing for Zimbabwe to concentrate on his career with Blackburn.
Zimbabwe skipper retires to concentrate on club career
Benjani Mwaruwari has retired from playing for Zimbabwe to concentrate on his career with Blackburn.
The 32-year-old skipper took the decision following Sunday's 0-0 draw with Cape Verde in an African Cup of Nations qualifier in Harare.
After making his international debut in 1998, the striker went on to score 29 goals in 44 games but believes now is the right time to go.
Benjani said: "I gave the maximum to the national team. I may not have scored all the goals that the fans would have liked me to score but I've never cheated with the national team jersey.
"I still have some years of playing which I want to dedicate to my club."
Convince
Zimbabwe's caretaker coach Norman Mapeza said on Wednesday he had tried to convince Benjani to stay on.
"I advised him to think a lot about his decision as the team still needs his experience as he is the captain," Mapeza said.
"But he said to me he now needed more time to concentrate on his club football as he has played his part for the Warriors.
"It is going to be a great loss to the national team ... we look up to him."
Benjani signed a one-year deal with Blackburn in August, having previously played for Auxerre, Portsmouth, Manchester City and Sunderland.
