Costa Rica ace stars at World Cup weeks after getting bus home from Sunderland
Jewison Bennette is starring for Costa Rica at the World Cup – just weeks after getting the bus home from a Sunderland match.
Making it to your first major tournament at the tender age of 18 is some achievement, but the youngster proved he is keeping his feet firmly on the ground with his use of public transport earlier this season.
Bennette, who joined the Black Cats from his hometown club Herediano in the summer, was spotted by a fan taking the bus with his dad after coming on as a substitute in their goalless Championship draw with Preston last month.
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He was praised by Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray, who said: "The legendary Sunderland players of the past, they used to get on the bus. I thought it was great – he's a lad who is acclimatising and he's got his dad with him."
It's been a rapid rise for Bennette, who only made his international debut just over a year ago and started Costa Rica's World Cup opener in Qatar on Wednesday (November 23), which disappointingly ended in a 7-0 defeat to Spain.
They now face an uphill battle to progress to the knockout stages, with their second match against Japan today (November 27) followed up by a final group game versus Germany next week.
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But regardless of the results, winger Bennette is gaining invaluable experience against world-class talent which will stand him in good stead for carrying his country's hopes in the future.
His minutes have been managed for both club and country and he's yet to start for Sunderland. But when he is on the pitch, his talent is clear to see.
It took him just 14 minutes in his second Championship appearance to net for the first time under Mowbray, while he bagged his first Costa Rica goals with a brace in a friendly against South Korea in September.
Despite that, he's not getting ahead of himself thanks to his dad's advice. “He tells me to work with humility, that football is for moments, and that no matter how high you feel you can never lower your guard,” Bennette said in an interview with the Costa Rican Football Federation in 2020.
His dad, also called Jewison, represented Costa Rica too. But Bennette Jr is looking to go one better and score a goal for his nation at the World Cup to keep their Qatar dream alive.
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