Ali Ahmad Jalali is an Afghan politician, diplomat and former military personnel. In addition to serving as the Minister of ...
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Ali Ahmad Jalali Wiki Age, Wife, Children, Family, Biography & More
‘I’m the only one that knows’ – Benjani lifts lid on what happened when Harry Redknapp sold him on Deadline Day
You know it’s transfer deadline day when you hear Harry Redknapp’s name floating about.
The former Premier League gaffer was renowned for his drive-by interviews, striking a deal for all kinds of players with the clock ticking on the transfer window.
One of Redknapp’s most famous antics was shipping Portsmouth‘s star striker Benjani Mwaruwari off to Manchester City on deadline day in January 2008 – the season Pompey lifted the FA Cup before numerous financial troubles saw them slip down the EFL pyramid.
Pompey had already confirmed the signing of Benjani’s replacement, Jermain Defoe, having accepted a £7.6million bid for the Zimbabwean striker.
Now, all has finally been revealed on one of the most bizarre transfer sagas in recent living memory.
Redknapp, speaking to the BBC, recalled Sven-Goran Eriksson – then Man City boss – had offered Pompey a sum “too good to turn down”.
So he shipped Benjani off to Southampton airport, and that’s when chaos ensued.
The Pompey boss received a call saying Benjani hadn’t arrived at Manchester airport, and it was later claimed that he had missed two flights, and a third had been cancelled.
Redknapp told the BBC he called Benjani, asking what on earth was going on.
Benjani was still at the airport, with the striker allegedly having second thoughts about a move.
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Now, for the first time, Benjani has revealed what really went down on that infamous deadline day – claiming “I’m the only person that knows what happened”.
He said: “Before this interview, I always have a lot of questions about that.
“The flight? Delayed. And my phone, now, I didn’t bring the charger, my phone is dead!”
He recalled both Pompey and Man City “trying to locate” him, stressing that he hadn’t fallen asleep in the airport, and did in fact want to go to the Etihad!
He continued: “I made the decision, I want to go!”
Benjani eventually arrived at Man City’s training ground at 11:10pm, with barely enough time to complete the deal.
He said: “It was five minutes to 12, everything was just a mess there. The fax machine broke down, so only one or two papers, they went through and the rest were [missing].”
The transfer eventually went through on February 5 2008, for a £3.87million fee, with bonuses set to take the deal up to the originally reported £7.6million.
Benjani bagged his first Man City goal just five days later, scoring the winner against Manchester United in the Manchester derby.
After spells with Sunderland and Blackburn, Benjani made a season-long return to Fratton Park in 2011, before finishing his career at South African sides Chippa United and Bidvest Wits.
He is now working within the Plymouth Argyle Academy as one of the club’s youth coaches.
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‘Good things come to those who change’ – New Irish stout launched that’s set to be cheaper than Guinness
A NEW Dublin-made stout has hit the market today – on the same day Guinness bosses raised their prices by six cent per pint.
Clockwork Velvet Stout, by Glasnevin-based Changing Times Brewery, was founded by the families behind some of Dublin’s best known pubs.
The price of a pint of Clockwork Velvet will be a question for each individual pub, however most of the pubs expect to charge around €6.90 a pint.
While a pint of Guinness in Dublin will probably be 30 cent more expensive on average at €7.20.
The new stout will be served in traditional, old school tankard glassware.
Described as a “consistent, smooth and sessionable stout”, it has 4.2 per cent alcohol.
It has a caramel sweetness, balanced bitterness and some notes of toast, chocolate, coffee, roast and earth hop aromas.
It is made using extra pale ale, brown malt, double roast crystal, chocolate malt, roast barley, Goldings hops and Nottingham yeast.
The Dublin brewery estimates the new pint will bring in €500k in revenue over the next three years.
The Changing Times team say they decided to create this drink after repeated requests from customers to bring out their own stout.
Ronan Lynch of The Swan pub said: “The one question we have been consistently getting from customers since we launched our brewery was when would we be bringing out a stout.
“Myself and many of the others were hearing that question several times a day like clockwork.
“It’s clear there’s a significant portion of stout drinking customers who are looking for a change and want to try something new.”
The Ferryman’s Keith O’Brien added: “It’s already been getting great feedback from customers who have tried samples and we can’t wait to see how more customers react now that it will be on tap in our pubs. Good things come to those who change.”
The Changing Times team has already confirmed they will be freezing their prices for 2025.
The brewery is located along the banks of the Royal Canal in Glasnevin.
BIG BACKING
It’s backed by the publican families behind pubs such as The Palace, The Long Hall, The Swan, Doheny & Nesbitts, The Ferryman, Devitts, Darkey Kellys, The Bankers, Arthur Maynes in Donnybrook, Sheehans, Lemon & Duke, The Bridge 1859, The Blackrock, The Bank and McSorleys.
Other partners in Changing Times include publican Benny McCabe, drinks industry entrepreneur and founder of Drumshanbo Irish Gin Patrick J. Rigney as well as brewer Shane Long.
People took to the brewery’s Instagram to share their thoughts on the new arrival.
One fan said: “Great day for a change. Slainte.”
Another said: “Times they are a changing.”
While another added: “Slainte mhaith!”
