How Karim Benzema Inspired Tino Kadewere

Controversy aside, Karim Benzema is a prolific player, who inspires many, including Tino Kadewere. Before his move to Real Madrid in 2009, B...

Controversy aside, Karim Benzema is a prolific player, who inspires many, including Tino Kadewere. Before his move to Real Madrid in 2009, Benzema notched 66 goals in 148 games for the French club, Lyon.

Benzema’s goal-scoring prowess was sustained at the Spanish side. The record set by the 33-year-old Frenchman inspired Kadewere to sign for Lyon, snubbing other lucrative club suitors in the process.

Eleven years after his departure, Benzema still has allegiance to his former club that gave him glory with passion, and he has time to encourage the team. When Lyon played St Etienne recently, he tweeted some inspirational words to Kadewere.

“Lyonnais tonight you can make a whole city proud and happy, we are all behind you,” tweeted the robust striker. “And Tino (Kadewere) keep making your dreams come true.”

In the game, Kadewere scored a brace, and he said he could have scored more if he had seen Benzema’s tweet before the game. “Unfortunately, I don’t have a Twitter account but I am sure if I has seen this before the game I was probably going to score more goals because getting a Tweet from such a big player and someone I look up to gives more motivation.” He has since joined Twitter.

Tino Kadewere

After a goal, scoring a brace rebooted the gangly forward’s confidence. “So I am really happy that one of the strikers that influenced me to sign for Lyon is following my progress and happy with whatever I am doing,” the Zimbabwean player told a French TV channel, Telefoot. “That gives me the confidence also and I really want to thank him for the belief and support.”

Kadewere dreams to partner with the legendary striker one day. “Play with Karim Benzema at Lyon or join him in Madrid? Regardless, playing with him would be a dream come true,” said Kadewere.

In France, he also made history alongside Marshal Munetsi a midfielder at Stade de Reims as the two Zimbabweans to play against each other in Europe after 20 years. The last duo was between Peter Ndlovu of Coventry City and Bruce Grobbelaar for Liverpool in England.

“Marshal is a great fiend, we played together since 2012 in Zimbabwe. We talk to each other, and we stick to each other because we are the only Zimbabwean playing football in France,” revealed Kadewere before the encounter won by Lyon.

Adapting to the French culture has been smooth for Kadewere and his family. “When I am not playing I am with my family. I met my wife when I was still in school. My son came with a blessing. When he was six months, I moved to Europe,” said Kadewere.

The player who is fluent in both French and English says his life revolves around football. “I have no other life outside football. “My wife is very supportive. She chose to marry a guy who is in this career. But I also love playing games, shopping and being with my family.”

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