Source: Team_Talk
Benji grateful for second chance
Benjelloun is hoping he has repaid new manager John Hughes and the Easter Road fans for standing by him.
The Moroccan cited a stolen passport for failing to return for pre-season in time last month but then appeared to be set for a move away from the club when pictured apparently signing a contract with Egyptians Al Ahly.
However, after that switch fell through the 24-year-old - who spent last season on loan in Belgium - returned to the club and immediately vowed to Hughes that he would win over the doubters by netting the winning goal against the Buddies.
And, with the visitors reduced to 10 men after only 14 minutes following Steven Thomson's red card for a wild lunge on former Falkirk team-mate Patrick Cregg, the stage was set for 'Benji' when debutant David Wotherspoon cancelled out Stephen McGinn's opener for St Mirren in the first half.
Benjelloun stooped to head in eight minutes from time from Danny Galbraith's cross after Derek Riordan's short corner and made a beeline to embrace a delighted Hughes.
He said: "I was very happy to score the winning goal. I said to the manager I would score the winning goal because I believed I would score.
"The manager is pushing me all the time and that's why I try to give my maximum.
"At 1-1 I believed I would come on and score the winner. I gave the manager a promise and I scored, so I was very happy.
"I told him I would come straight to him if I scored and that's why I did that. I want to thank him for pushing me in training and the chairman and the fans because it was a fantastic reception for me.
"I am happy for the fans. The Hibs fans mean a lot in my heart. When I went to warm up they gave me a good reception and I want to thank them for that.
"I was very happy to play and to score for the fans, for the club, for me and for the manager, who gave me a chance and gave me the confidence to play."
Benji insisted his failure to return for the start of pre-season training was solely down to his passport being stolen and he claims he has never wanted to leave Hibs.
He added: "Not everybody knows the story of what happened in the summer.
"Someone stole my passport out of my car and after that I had a chance to go to another club but the clubs could not agree.
"But I have never said I wanted to leave Hibs or play for another club. "I am very happy to be a Hibs player and I am very happy to stay. I like the club, I like the people here, I like the fans and the fans like Benji. What more do you want from life?"
McGinn capitalised on a defensive mix-up to fire 10-man St Mirren into a surprise lead in the 38th minute but John Rankin set up the impressive Wotherspoon, a graduate from Hibs' double-winning under-19s side from last season, to side-foot in the equaliser
within a minute.
The home side continually pressed for the winner after the break but had to wait until Benjelloun's late winner to seal a perfect start for new boss Hughes.
St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson refused to talk about Thomson's sending-off afterwards but was clearly unhappy at referee Alan Muir's decision.
He said: "There were worse challenges in the game that could have led to serious injuries."
