Blues midfielder Kundai Benyu was not included in Zimbabwe’s 25-man provisional squad for their Africa Cup of Nations Cup match with Liberia on Sunday 11th June which was announced this morning, despite Town and Warriors manager Wellington Mupandare both previously confirming that the uncapped 19-year-old would be involved.

However, the Zimbabwe FA says the squad could still change with other players from England added, presumably including Camden-born Benyu, who we understand is very keen to represent the country of his parents’ birth.

Speaking to Zimbabwe-based newspaper The Standard last week, Mupandare said: “Yes, I can confirm that Kundai Benyu has been called up to the national team.

“I had a meeting with his father in Harare last Friday and he would love to see him playing for Zimbabwe. He has since communicated with him.

“Benyu’s situation is slightly different from the other players based in England in that even though he was born there, his father relocated to Zimbabwe some time ago, which makes it easier for us to process his documents in the event that he wants to play for Zimbabwe.”

As reported on Friday, contract discussions between Benyu and the Blues are ongoing and an agreement on a new deal is expected to be confirmed over the summer with a report that the former Aldershot loanee has turned down his new deal wide of the mark.

Claims that Tottenham, West Ham, Aston Villa and Celtic are keen to sign him appear unlikely and purely speculative.

Photo: TWTD

midastouch added 18:02 - May 25 Get him in the first team Mick and send Skuse out on loan to Aldershot!
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Seasider added 20:16 - May 25 Well Midas Touch,hate to disagree with you;but saw the lad play fairly recently on BT,and although he was said by the commentator to be popular with the fans of Aldershot,;he didn't stand out.Think he was subbed;but may have had a knock. I am not a fan of Skusey either,and would like to see Benyu on the bench next season,along side a new manager,with cameos on the grass to start with.

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midastouch added 20:54 - May 25 That was probably the Play Off game that was televised Seasider. Don't think that was his best game, but before that he had been instrumental in propelling Aldershot into the Play Off picture as I'd read several rave reviews of him in those matches. I know it's a lower level but I think he deserves at least some runs from the bench to see what he can offer the Town. He also has a very tasty free kick and we've been missing one of those since Mark Venus! Actually we must have had somebody with a decent free kick since Venus but it doesn't feel like it. Did Marcus Stewart have a good free kick? Or maybe Darren Currie did? Somebody must have surely or was the last decent free kick specialist Venus? If so that's not good!

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midastouch added 23:54 - May 25 Of course Lawrence had a decent enough free kick but sadly he wasn't for keeps.
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acj added 02:35 - May 27 midastouch Darren Currie had a cracking free kick on him!
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midastouch added 12:49 - May 27 Cheers acj, I had vague memories of him having a decent free kick. Currie was quality, not much pace but he more than made up for it in other areas. What we'd give to have somebody with that quality now. Living in Norf**k I am surrounded by a lot of Norwich fans and my hairdresser at the time (who was a big City fan, but top-class bloke aside from that!) said to me after a derby match that he thought Currie looked brilliant and couldn't understand why he didn't start for us all the time. Trust me, you don't get many Norwich fans round these parts ever saying that any of our players look brilliant! I think it was a first and way the things are going perhaps the last! :-(

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