EXCLUSIVE Benteke for Mozzart Sport Kenya: I wish to go back to Africa to help people
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Reading Time: 4min | Sun. 07.03.21. | 09:56
The experienced striker talks to us about his African origins, Messi and Ronaldo, but also about tonight's game against Jose Mourinho's Tottenham
Christian Benteke, the 30-year-old Belgium striker, born in DR Congo, has been a household name in English football for almost a decade. Successful stints in Aston Villa, Liverpool, and his present club, Crystal Palace, have made him one of the Premier League's most respected forwards.
In an exclusive interview for Mozzart Sport Kenya, Benteke reveals that he still wants to improve his game no matter his age.
"Of course, I want to improve my game because football has changed, and I still want to be a better player every day. We are in 2021, and the football will change even more in the future," predicts he.
And in the future, he is talking about, he sees himself back in Africa, where he lived before moving to Belgium at the age of 3.
"I still have family in Africa. I feel really proud to be a Congolese player in one of the best leagues in the world. I hope I will have a chance to go back there and help people."
Widely known for both, scoring goals and celebrating them with a unique style, Benteke tells us that even VAR – video assistant referee technology – cannot spoil the joy of seeing the ball in the back of the net.
"It really doesn't matter. You'll always celebrate. You can't control it, score and then tell yourself, 'Oh, I shall wait for the ref's decision'. It's impossible. You are only a human," smiles Benteke.
And who is the best ever in 'strikers' business' in his opinion?
"Ronaldo, the Brazilian, definitely. And when it comes to contemporary players, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are both the world's best players. If I had to say what an outstanding player, an ideal one, needs to have, it would have to be a mixture of those two."
In Crystal Palace, they don't have Messi nor Ronaldo, but the team from Selhurst Park is doing just fine this season, although they maybe haven't scored as many goals as expected.
"Obviously, we have some serious names in the offensive line of our team that can score even more goals, but definitely what is the most important is winning the games, and that's what we are trying to do every time we are on the pitch.
"We are doing good, but there are still 11 games left, and I think we can still try to go higher in terms of points and the place on the table."
Benteke in action against Man Utd (©AFP)Asked about some inconsistencies in Crystal Palace's performances so far, Benteke admits it's not a false impression.
"Yes, I guess a bit of everything led to that. Sometimes when you win games, you are a little bit more comfortable and then the focus and luck change, and all of a sudden, you need to look back because you are maybe in three defeats in a row. Like we've been recent. Then we have to come back to what we are doing best, being compact, in good shape, to be able to get points again. And that's why we are good in the last couple of games," he stresses out.
Benteke is usually paired up in the attack with Wilfried Zaha, whom he considers the true pall, but sometimes Belgium comes in as a substitute. That has its pros, and Benteke gives a lovely insight:
"Once you are in, everything is in your mind. When you come late on the pitch, you're fresh, sharp, you've been reading the game, you're not tired and losing focus. You have an advantage in this kind of situations. It's all about mental focus then, because once you enter the pitch, you need to adapt quickly to help the boys…"
And they'll need a lot of help tonight since they're facing Jose Mourinho's Tottenham in the last tie of the Premier League matchday 29.
"It will be another tough game for us, but we are in a good mood. We've got three games without a defeat behind us, and I believe we can get some points in London too," concludes Benteke for Mozzart Sport Kenya.
By: NEVEN CVIJANOVIĆ, Sport Klub TV reporter
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