By BBC Sport Online's Martin Davies

Zimbabwean striker Benjamin Mwaruwari is creating waves in the French league.

His amazing tally of five goals has come in the equivalent of less than three full matches for Auxerre; a rate of a goal in every half he plays.

His tongue-twisting name is also causing a bit of a stir.

But as the French sports newspaper L'Equipe has noted, the Zimbabwean has a nickname to go with his new fame.

The name on the player's shirt is now Benjani.

Mwaruwari told L'Equipe: "It was the coach who said I should put the name on my shirt.

"He thought people wouldn't hold on to the name Mwaruwari."

Journey

Three years ago, Mwaruwari quit his homeland to play for Jomo Cosmos in South Africa and subsequently joined Grasshoppers Zurich in Switzerland.

But his agent convinced Guy Roux, the experienced coach of Auxerre, to take a look at him last summer.

Roux was impressed and wasted no time in signing the speedy striker.

Ahead of the Zimbabwean in Auxerre's pecking order was Djibril Cisse, last season's leading goal scorer in the league.

But an injury opened the way for Mwaruwari to make his mark.

He said his parents in Zimbabwe had installed a satellite dish at home, in order to watch his progress in the Champions League, where he has made one appearance.

Nations Cup

The striker is likely to be involved in Zimbabwe's attempt to qualify for Tunisia 2004.

The Warriors, as the national team is known, have never made it to the finals of Africa's premier football event.

Mwaruwari could prove to be their joker.

But he revealed to L'Equipe that he came quite close to playing for Malawi.

"I had wanted to play for Malawi, which is my parents country of origin. But no-one pushed me to play for Malawi."

It would seem that their loss is Zimbabwe's gain, as Guy Roux and everyone at Auxerre will testify.