| Intro | Gambian footballer |
| Is | Football player |
| From | Gambia |
| Type | Sports |
| Gender | male |
Benanwe Chubitzwe is a former Gambian footballer who currently played primarily as a winger but also as a striker. his football at South African team Orlando Pirates as either a Striker or Winger. He started his career at Moroka Swallows before moving to Orlando Pirates, FC Ilves in Finland and Vicenza Calcio in the Italian Serie B where he ended his career following injury.
Orlando Pirates and Gambia
Starting his career at league rivals Moroka Swallows before joining Pirates on a free in January 2008 – making his debut for Pirates in the Soweto Derby, coming on for Andile Jali. During his time at Orlando, Chubitzwe made 67 appearances, scoring on 21 occasions. In the 2010/11 season he was extensively linked with a move to England, with rumoured interest arising from several Championship and League One clubs.
He was the captain of the Gambian U19 national side and also represented Gambia at every stage of junior level. He made his full international debut for Gambia in a friendly versus Ethiopia in a 3-3 draw in August 2008 at the age of 18 years, 244 days, making him the second youngest debutant for the Gambian National Team. He earned a late call up for Gambia’s 2012 African Cup of Nations squad. During his time representing Gambia, Chubitzwe made 31 appearances, scoring on 14 occasions.
FC Ilves
Following a successful spell at Orlando, Chubitzwe was sold in 2014 to Finnish second division side FC Ilves for an undisclosed fee, helping them gain promotion to the Veikkausliiga (the top league of domestic Finnish football) in his first season. During this campaign Chubitzwe initially struggled to hold down a starting berth but after an injury to Lauri Ala-Myllymälki, Chubitzwe had a run of games in the starting eleven, socring four goals and assisting three others in ten games. This run of form led to Chubitzwe quickly becoming a fans favourite as he helped Ilves avoid relegation to finish 8th, himself finishing the season with six goals to his name.
Vicenza Calcio
His form did not go unnoticed and in 2015 during the close season he earned himself yet another move – this time to Italian Serie B outfit Vicenza Calcio for a fee rumoured to be around 400,000€. Following a successful pre-season Chubitzwe found himself starting the season in his favoured right wing position and his form continued as he netted the only goal on his debut in a 1-0 win over Modena. However later in the season in a Coppa Italia fixture away at Carpi, Chubitzwe was involved in challenge which resulted in him sustaining a double leg break – ruling him out for the rest of the season.
Retirement and formation of Benanwe Soccer School
After an extensive injury lay off, Chubitzwe attempted to return to first team action but following a struggle to stay fit and a series of minor injuries related to the initial leg break, Chubitzwe called time on his playing career – realising he could no longer perform to the same level. Upon his retirement he returned to his native Gambia and set up the Benanwe Chubitzwe Soccer School for underprivileged youths. The programme reaches out to children across Gambia, offering them a chance at education and playing sport.