Portsmouth News 24/7Writer: pompeyrug 
Date:Monday October 1 2007
Time: 4:02PM
UK time is: 07:02:00
Choose your club
Other Sites
Network Navigation
Vital Partners
'If It's Football, It's Vital'
Benjani's hat-trick for the fans
Benjani scored his first hat-trick for Pompey on Saturday in our incredible 7-4 win over Reading and he has been quick to tell the pfcTV how the goals are for us - the fans.
After two goals in the opening two games of the season he has failed to score since, but he took only a few minutes to get off the mark on Saturday, he then scored a fantastic solo effort before completing his hat-trick at the Fratton End, something that meant a lot to him: 'It was great to score my hat-trick at the Fratton End - that made it the favourite goal of the three goals I scored.
'The Pompey fans have stuck by me from when I first came here, so it was great to score a hat-trick from them. It was a special moment. They've always supported me.
'When you score three goals you're more than happy. I think it is the best hat-trick I have ever scored'.
Us fans absolutely adore Benjani, something which his effort alone deserves. He always - without exception - plays with a smile on his face too, with him looking eternally grateful for what he has.
He enjoys a very special relationship with us so it is fantastic to see him scoring goals this season, long may it continue, which so long as he is not wasted on the wing - which he is when he is played there - he will score more.
I can only recall seeing one other hat-trick in a game that I have been at, this was Guy Whittingham's against Port Vale in a 4-0 win in the late 90's, but surely there can never have been a more popular hat-trick in Fratton Park history than that scored by the Zimbabwean on Saturday?
PLAY UP POMPEY!
To join the Vital Pompey debate - in the forum or with comments on articles - simply take a few seconds to register an account.
Seconds Out! Vital Boxing is here!
Vital F1 Prediction League - Join now for Monaco
Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.
Join the Vital Fantasy Football League - its Free!
Your Comments
what a game that was that what supporters what to see
muffdaddy1983
And we don't lose him for the African cup in January.
storagematt
yep that is a certain added bonus storage...
pompeyrug
Yakubu scored the last hat trick for us didn't he? Most've been 3 or 4 years ago.
Lysimachus
It's prob a stupid question...but how come Benjis not of to the african nations???...hes not french is he??:)
CharlieChimes
it was against boro on the final match of the season a few years back wasnt it - i wasnt saying whittingham's was the, i was saying his was the last i can remember seeing at a game i was at.
pompeyrug
zimbabwe didnt quality mate - so as sad as it is for him and the people of zimbabwe im kind of glad from a pompey point of view...
pompeyrug
I'd lay £20 he won't get another hat trick this season though!
merlin
...and most playors dont get more than 1 hatrick in a season. although benji looks rejuvinated. he has the support of 2 classy playors going forward in 4-3-3 (utaka and kranjcar) and he has hopefully pushed kanu back to the impact playor that i wanted him to be.
pompeycarpet
He has waited a long time to get goals, but he took the chances really well, and he deserves all the plaudits that he is now getting.
Let us hope that he goes from strength to strength, i really love his attitude and his workrate is formidable.
I remember Lee BADBUY getting a hattrick against Barnsley, yep i did spell it right ask the City fans,and i think Steve Claridge got three against the same team a couple of seasons laterand the great Robert Proseneki got 3 against Barnsley as well in 2002.
Teddy got one against Bolton at Fratton to take us to the top of the premiership, what a night that was, and the Yak got four against the Boro last game of the season in 2004, i am sure Dave will be able to confirm or not confirm these memories.
Benjy get in there !!
Owenspompey
Owens... I can remeber two Mark Hateley Hattricks in a week !! - But I'd have to defer to Dave for clarification ...... I'll do the honours and send Rug an note for the 'Challenge Dave' ..
Chix
You've just gotta love the man haven't you. The way he took them was pure class, if you'd told me 2 seasons ago i'd have laughed my head off, he was like a Peter Kenyon caught in headlights...bally petrified
pentonpompey
''tis done.. lets see whart Dave can come up with.... Tell you what though I think this could be Benji's 'turning the corner' moment - I think we are gonna see all that hard work pay off .... And if Merlin comes back with the £20 bet I'd take it off him ... as long as he doesn't insist Benji's next hat-trick has to be against Chelsea !!
Chix
Just love the guy, like we all say, it's the workrate that endears him to us. Anyone know what the goal celebration means?? Both him and kanu do this pointing 3 way thing???
pompey4me
Actually Lua lua got the last hat-trick, against Newport pre-season, and Hateley did indeed score 6 goals in 6 days back in 1983
paultsmouth
I'm not after Dave's statto job by the way!
paultsmouth
Heres a question for Dave, who has got the most Pompey hat-tricks? My money is on someone like Peter Harris
paultsmouth
4me - I was wondering about that celebration too.... I've not idea though
Chix
Paul.. talking of stato - here is one for you ...Benji (our top scorer) has not played a full game this season yet !
Chix
chix, maybe dave will know about the celebration??LOL
pompey4me
merlin, if you want to make a personal bet with me - editor to editor - i will take you up on it, as altho tbh i never thought i would see benji score a hat-trick i wouldnt be against him doing it again now... they used to call him the 'undertaker' when he played in african as he put so many away!
pompeyrug
the goal celebration, well i can tell you... the celebration is also something that makes benji so great it is his way of thanking the fans, as it is for the fans. with the 3 finger points into the crowd he is saying 'i like you, i like you, i like you' then 'i like all of you' - that bits the arm movement at the end in the style an umpire signals a 4 in cricket... and that is the honest to god truth, no word of a lie he is saying how much he loves all of us!
pompeyrug
and thanks for the challenges for dave - he has just sorted something that Owenspompey asked, ive sent him another he asked too, i will be forwarding the latest ones tomorrow and will also pass on your one paultsmouth - if he doesnt see it himself anyway...
pompeyrug
The celebration makes sense rug, is that true? Where did you hear that?
pompey4me
yep its dead true - i heard it straight from the horses mouth, benji himself said so...
pompeyrug
Geez, what a guy, tear to my eye and all that, just love the fella!
pompey4me
Have Your Say
Recent Articles
On this day in history...24th May (Friday May 24 2013)
David Connolly joins the crusade (Thursday May 23 2013)
Not short of an option or two! (Thursday May 23 2013)
On this day in history...23rd May (Thursday May 23 2013)
On this day in history...22nd May (Wednesday May 22 2013)
Reaping the benefits of 1st team football (Tuesday May 21 2013)
On this day in history...21st May (Tuesday May 21 2013)
Scunny winger becomes latest Pompey signing (Monday May 20 2013)
Winger signing imminent? (Monday May 20 2013)
On this day in history...20th May (Monday May 20 2013)
Archived Articles
Vital Members League (view all)
| 1. | pompeyrug | 71 |
| 2. | eastneydave | 52 |
| 3. | storagematt | 37 |
| 4. | mslorna48 | 29 |
| 5. | Jimsmithswig | 25 |
| 6. | Pompeytim | 20 |
| 7. | blueballoo2000 | 17 |
| 8. | nagoyablue | 15 |
| 9. | PompeyJake | 13 |
| 10. | PFCblue | 10 |
League Results (view all)
| Latest Results | ||||
| Shrewsbury | 3 | - | 2 | Portsmouth |
| Portsmouth | 3 | - | 0 | Sheff Utd |
| Brentford | 3 | - | 2 | Portsmouth |
| Portsmouth | 0 | - | 0 | Stevenage |
| Portsmouth | 1 | - | 0 | Tranmere |
| Preston | 1 | - | 1 | Portsmouth |
League Table (view table)
| Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
| 18. Stevenage | 46 | 15 | 9 | 22 | -17 | 54 |
| 19. Oldham | 46 | 14 | 9 | 23 | -13 | 51 |
| 20. Colchester | 46 | 14 | 9 | 23 | -21 | 51 |
| 21. Scunthorpe | 46 | 13 | 9 | 24 | -24 | 48 |
| 22. Bury | 46 | 9 | 14 | 23 | -28 | 41 |
| 23. Hartlepool | 46 | 9 | 14 | 23 | -28 | 41 |
| 24. Portsmouth | 46 | 10 | 12 | 24 | -18 | 32 |
Breaking League News
| Max rescues England
» Crewe : 24/05/2013 22:53:00
|
| Colin Cooper Appointed Hartlepool Boss
» Hartlepool : 24/05/2013 22:51:00
|
| Watt Was That, Kinsella?
» Colchester : 24/05/2013 22:42:00
|
| Ibehre Thanks U's Support
» Colchester : 24/05/2013 22:31:00
|
| SUFC Long hoping to cap fantastic season
» Sheff Utd : 24/05/2013 21:33:00
|
| SUFC Good news for McMahon
» Sheff Utd : 24/05/2013 21:09:00
|
| Swindon Town Accept Bristol City Flint Bid
» Swindon : 24/05/2013 16:28:00
|
Current Site Poll (view all polls)
|
|
1 © - All content copyright Vital Network Ltd, not to be reproduced without explicit permission Copyright Issues
Cookie Policy
At Vital Football, we along with most other modern websites use small files called 'cookies' to create the most secure, effective and functional website possible for our users. Without these files our business model, based on advertising, breaks down and we would be unable to continue to provide the services that you are here to utilise. By continuing to use this website after seeing this message, you consent to our use of cookies on this device unless you have disabled them. For full details please read our Cookie Policy which can be found here. However, if you would like to disable cookies on this device, please view our Cookie Policy which contains an opt-out tool for disabling advertising cookies. Please also visit our information pages on 'How to manage cookies' if you would also like to block all other types of cookies. Please be aware that parts of this site will not function correctly if you disable cookies.