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Fullname: Kundai Leroy Jeremiah Benyu
aka: Kundai Benyu
Born: 12 Dec 1997
Birthplace: Camden (London), England
Signed: 29 June 2017 (from Inv Caley)
Left: 5 Oct 2020 (free, to Wealdstone)
Position: Midfielder
Debut: 2017-07-19: Celtic 4-0 Linfield, European Cup
Squad No.: 26
Internationals: Zimbabwe
International Caps: 5 [complete at end of career]
International Goals: 0 [complete at end of career]
Biog
Out of the blue in June 2017 whilst everyone was talking about upcoming Champions League qualifiers and big money signings, Benyu Kundai was signed up from Inverness Caley. Little was known of this young midfielder, and having just joined the history making treble side at Celtic (domestically undefeated) he had a lot to work on to make the first team under Brendan Rodgers.
He was reportedly a box-to-box midfielder with a good engine and another ‘one for the future‘, but in his case it sadly wasn’t to be.
Kundai had a lot to learn, after a spat the year before at his previous club (Ipswich) with their manager (ex-Celtic player Mick McCarthy) which dented his career, but he backed down to admit his errors, but a repeat at Celtic was never going to be tolerated by Brendan Rodgers:
“It’s my fault really. I had an attitude problem last season [at Ipswich] which put the gaffer off using me but I’ve apologised now and we’re on good terms again so it’s all good now.”
His debut was in a possibly explosive match v Linfield in the European Cup qualifiers, but thankfully the match was easy enough with Celtic running out 4-0 victors with no trouble passing by. One report positively wrote on his debut along with Jonny Hayes that:
“Jonny Hayes and Kundai Benyu came into the game and both were dangerous. Hayes went close to scoring and Benyu’s grace on the ball posed the visitors more problems”.
Despite that, he didn’t really prove enough in his initial matches, playing only a handful of times in what were against lesser challenging opposition, but he was still young so time was on his side. Some thought he showed nice touches and some promise, but at Celtic with a glut of midfielders in a side that was already performing at top level (going now for back-to-back trebles), this was probably not the easiest place for him to win experience. So a loan out for his own sake was quite obvious from early on.
He was little used in the first half of 2017/18 and was quickly loaned off to Aldershot then Oldham to help his career and development.
Thereafter, he was actually to be mostly forgotten by much of the support during that time but that was due to his only fleeting appearances with his on-loan clubs, and there with little reported back of note on his progress.
Despite being a Londoner, he is a Zimbabwean by descent and ended up being capped for their national side whilst a Celt (albeit away on loan). So something good fortune in his time at Celtic.
On his return to Celtic, he wasn’t considered for first team places, and so the writing was on the wall. He wasn’t going to make it as Celtic. The club already was in an enviable position with a glut of outperforming youngsters, the most the club had had for generations (e.g. Ralston, Morgan, Tierney, Ajer), and so this was crowding out others.
At least at Celtic, he was given a chance with some appearances and given an introduction to a European competition, something that all else can only dream of. Better to have had the chance than not. He got to play also a fleeting role in the incredible 2017/18 InVIncibles season in which Celtic won the treble, remained unbeaten domestically and made the Champions League group stages which is something to take some pride in.
He spent the bulk of his time away from Celtic on loan (at OIdham & Helsingborg), but even on his return back he was completely out of the picture for the first team. It simply didn’t work out. He was one of many Brendan Rodgers transfers that didn’t make the grade.
After the failed loan moves, he wound up floundering as a peripheral figure in the Celtic squad, and won no first team gametime or exposure. His career on the frontline of the game was long over.
He moved to lowly Wealdstone in 2020, long out the picture at Celtic. He then moved to Vestri and IBV (both in Iceland).
We wished him the best.
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES (subs) |
LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 2017-18 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 (2) | 2 (2) |
| Goals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Honours with Celtic
Scottish League
Scottish League Cup
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Articles
Celtic: Midfielder Kundai Benyu joins club on four-year contract
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40446748
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has made two signings so far this summer
Celtic have completed the signing of teenage midfielder Kundai Benyu from Ipswich Town.
The 19-year-old moves to the Scottish treble-winners on a four-year deal and will join up with the squad at their training camp in Austria.
“It’s a massive honour to sign for the Scottish champions and one of the world’s great clubs,” Benyu told the Celtic website.
“It’s a great opportunity for me to develop under Brendan Rodgers.”
Benyu, who is described by Celtic as a box-to-box midfielder, did not feature in the Ipswich first team but was part of the top-team set-up.
He was loaned to National League side Aldershot Town and netted five goals in 23 appearances.
“I’m looking forward to meeting up with my new Celtic team-mates,” he added.
“I know there’s a lot of hard work ahead of me but I am ready for this, I’m looking forward to the challenge and I can’t wait to get started.”
Kundai Benyu: Celtic are bigger than Tottenham Hotspur
Read more at: http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/kundai-benyu-celtic-are-bigger-than-tottenham-hotspur-1-4491968
New Celtic arrival Kundai Benyu discovered the club wanted to sign him while watching the William Hill Scottish Cup final on television.
Benyu sat down to watch Celtic face Aberdeen on May 27 oblivious to the Scottish champions’ interest but ended up cheering his future team-mates on as they clinched the treble.
The 19-year-old has now officially joined Celtic after signing a four-year deal after rejecting a new contract offer from Ipswich.
Benyu told Celtic TV: “I was in my friend’s house in North London actually watching the Scottish Cup final – Celtic and Aberdeen – when my agent called me and told me Celtic were interested. I was speechless and couldn’t believe it. And from then on, it all went pretty quickly.
“During the game I got the call, around 60 to 70 minutes in. After I got that phone-call I was more or less supporting Celtic – and I was buzzing when Celtic scored that late goal, which was a very good goal.”
The London-born midfielder scored five goals on loan with Vanarama National League side Aldershot in the second half of last season and was linked with the likes of Tottenham, West Ham and Aston Villa.
Benyu had previously been allowed to play for Spurs in a European youth tournament but he felt Celtic under Brendan Rodgers was the right place to develop.
“I know I’m joining one of the biggest clubs in the world, with 60,000 fans at every home game, which is crazy,” he said.
“In my opinion, Celtic are bigger than all of those clubs who were interested in me. And the manager as well persuaded me. The gaffer has helped a lot of young players in the past like Raheem Sterling and Jordan Ibe, so I’m hoping to be a part of that list.
“That was the main factor, really, because it shows the gaffer’s put faith in me and he trusts that he sees me in his team and that I can improve as a player.
“My ambition is to get into the first-team squad by the start of the season, and do the best that I can and improve as a player under the gaffer.”
Read more at: http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/celtic/kundai-benyu-celtic-are-bigger-than-tottenham-hotspur-1-4491968
Brendan Rodgers signing recalls ‘frustrating’ Celtic spell, not sure what he’s got to moan about
Brendan Rodgers signing recalls ‘frustrating’ Celtic spell, not sure what he’s got to moan about
By Paul Gillespie 29 December, 2021 No Comments
Kundai Benyu of Celtic is seen prior to the UEFA Champions League Qualifying Play-Offs Round First Leg match between Celtic FC and FK Astana at Celtic Park on August 16, 2017 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Former Celtic signing and peripheral figure during his time at the club, Kundai Benyu, has spoken of his spell in Glasgow several years ago for the first time. The player was brought into the club by Brendan Rodgers, beating off stiff competition from the English Premier League for his coveted signature.
The signing was hailed as a major coup back in the summer of 2017, whilst Celtic were in the halcyon days of continual league and cup success. The challenge was even harder than he and imagined following his move from the National League down south. At the time, even Stuart Armstrong was not a guaranteed starter for the club, reflecting how difficult it was to break into that Celtic midfield.
August 19th 2017, Rugby Park, Kilmarnock versus Celtic; Kundai Benyu
What ensued was an extremely frustrating time for Benyu in Glasgow’s East End. Speaking to Football Scotland, he said: “I think timing played a massive part because when I got to Celtic the team was established and successful. It’s always difficult to change a winning team. The times I did play I enjoyed it, albeit it was frustrating because I wanted to play more, but that’s football.
His experience at Celtic has not soured his view of the club though, merely that he wished for more involvement. The Zimbabwean approached then manager Rodgers due to his lack of game time and felt he was labelled because of this. He said: “Celtic played Champions League and that was always appealing to me,” the player said when asked what attracted him to Parkhead. Brendan actually called me personally which was amazing. Aston Villa, Tottenham, West Ham and all the other clubs just sent representatives but Brendan calling was major for me.
Brendan Rodgers manager of Celtic speaks to Saidy Janko of Celtic during a Celtic training session ahead of the UEFA Champions League Group B match against Paris Saint-Germain at Lennoxtown on September 11, 2017 .(Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
“(Later) I wasn’t angry at all but I was really frustrated because I wasn’t given a fair chance. I believe in my ability and I was better than some people but it didn’t matter what I did in training, certain players would still get the nod ahead of me. If I said something, people would say I had a bad attitude, but I just wanted to play and show what I could do. I have no regrets but a lot was promised that wasn’t delivered. For a young player, the stadium and Champions League potential was so appealing and I did everything and beyond, it just didn’t work out.”
He said: “I try to be as professional as possible and I did knock on the door because I wanted to play and prove myself. I went to Celtic not to warm the bench but I understood we had experience and that’s what kept the team winning. It was always difficult not to blame anyone or point fingers at anyone, but in football you also need luck.”
Dedryck Boyata of Celtic and Kundai Benyu of Celtic speak during the Celtic Training Session prior to the Group B UEFA Champions League match between Celtic and Bayern Muenchen on October 30, 2017. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
The midfielder also revealed the friendships he struck up during his time at Lennoxtown and reserved a special mention for Celtic’s new club captain. He added: “I actually had a good relationship with everyone. But I got on really, really well with Nir (Bitton), Griff (Leigh Griffiths) and Odsonne (Edouard). Callum McGregor has every ability a top centre-midfielder in Europe has. He’s a top player and a good man as well.”
Paul Gillespie