Collin takes on Milan stars

NAMIBIAN international Collin Benjamin scored an equaliser for Hamburg SV in their match against Italian Serie A powerhouse AC Milan, in a friendly match which saw him playing alongside some of the finest footballers in the world.

Benjamin equalised for his side through a close-range effort in the 66th minute after Ronaldinho put the Italian side ahead through a penalty four minutes earlier.
However, the German side lost 4-3 on penalties, but the prominence of top footballers in the match made it more interesting with especially England’s David Beckham, also making his debut for the side.
Beckham made his AC Milan debut with a steady first-half run-out after he joined the Serie A club on a short loan spell from Los Angeles Galaxy to keep up his fitness and stay in contention for the England team during the US close season.
The 30 -year old Benjamin, who also captains Namibia’s national side, the Brave Warriors, is among the most capped players at Hamburg with 130 matches to his credit and 14 goals for the side.
He was alongside Razundara Tjikuzu the first Namibian exports to Germany and he has since played for the German side, while Tjikuzu has changed clubs several times over the years.
But on Tuesday, it was a special night for Benjamin who went up against players such as Beckham, Brazil’s Ronaldinho and Kaka, Ukraine’s Andriy Shevchenko, Paolo Maldini, Filippo Inzaghi and Alexandre Pato from Italy.
Other players included Italian international Gianluca Zambrotta and Brazilian goal-minder Dida and Dutch midfield maestro Clarence Seedorf.
Benjamin represented Namibia in the 2008 African Nations Cup in Ghana and also helped the team through the qualifying stages to the finals of the competition.
At Hamburg, he is used as a defender or midfielder and can also play in an attacking role.
Benjamin established a football academy a few years back in Namibia and the team competes in the Khomas Under-17 League.
He is one of the few Namibian international players who have consistently played top-flight football for years in Europe, while he has garnered 30 caps for the national team so far, making him one of the most experienced players for the Brave Warriors.