The 31-year-old only completed his loan move from Manchester City to the Stadium of Light a day after the closure of the January window because of problems with the club’s communications network on Monday.
However, he is relishing the chance to prove himself once again after managing only six appearances for City this season, and only two of those in the Barclays Premier League.
Benjani told Sunderland’s official website: “It feels really great to be here and I am very happy with my decision. Sunderland is a good club.
“I am feeling fit and well and ready to play. I have been injured for a long time in the past, but I have recovered well. “Now I have a chance to play regularly here and hopefully I will get the time on the pitch.“The season for them is okay, but not so much for me as I have not been playing. As a player, I need to play and that has been frustrating. “As a striker, I always want to score in every game. There are some good players here and I am looking forward to playing with them.”
Benjani was one of several members of Steve Bruce’s squad to train at the stadium on Wednesday with the club’s training ground falling foul of the weather.
The manager is delighted to have the former Grasshoppers, Auxerre and Portsmouth striker on board, and again insisted he has been recruited to compete with Kenwyne Jones, rather than replace him.
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Bruce told the Sunderland Echo: “You can see a lot of similarities between the style of Kenwyne and Benjani.
‘They are both very tall, very powerfully built front men who can cause defenders real problems on their day. They are both capable of making and creating goals too.
But I don’t want Benjani to replace Kenwyne, I need him to give us another option because we have been a bit light in the striking department.
“Darren Bent has got us a stack load of goals this season, but I think that working off a big man is something he thrives upon, and Kenwyne has been a big help to him in that direction. “So, getting Benjani in means that we still have the option of pairing a big man with Darren if Kenwyne gets suspended or injured.
“It’s reassuring for a manager to have competition for places up front and getting Benjani to the club gives us another body to consider, another option.
“He’s a player I have admired for a long time and I think he’s going to be an excellent addition to the squad.’
Benjani arrives with the Black Cats in the midst of an alarming slump which has left them looking uncomfortably over their shoulders towards the relegation zone. — MailOnline.
