eBusiness Weekly
Chipo Sabeta
Dynamos Football Club is easily the most recognised football brand in Zimbabwe, with its past successes something present fans can look back on with immense fondness and pride.
But its enigmatic loss of form since the beginning of the new season seems to have erased all those fond memories.
With the team winless in seven games, the discord at Dynamos is worsening as fans contemplate a boycott of the next home fixture against Bulawayo City FC at Rufaro this Sunday.
The Glamour Boys’ fans are upset with the club’s hierarchy for the team’s poor showing in the new season’s games. Dynamos has three points out of a possible 21.
“Operation stay away from Rufaro: Marriot enough is enough!” are some of the messages and fliers circulating on social networks as fans push for “operation restore order” at their beloved club.
Dynamos’ woes hit a crescendo over the weekend after the team lost 1-nil to old foes CAPS United, placing it second bottom of the log standings.
On the other side of the coin, the fixtures have also not been kind to Dynamos, as it has faced some tricky opponents like Highlanders, Shabanie Mine among its opening matches of the 2018 campaign.
However, DeMbare’s current problems go beyond players and the technical team.
Mubaiwa wants his money back
Club president Keni Mubaiwa is owed over $700 000 by Dynamos which accumulated over the seven years he has been at the helm of DeMbare and he has not made it a secret that he wants to recover his money.
In the midst of such chaos, Mubaiwa vowed to stay on despite a push from supporters for leadership renewal.
“I feel I have done a lot for the club and to be chased like a thief is unacceptable. For now, we want to reach an amicable solution to address this chaos. I can leave now, yes, but will I get my money back? I am here and will try to get a solution. I can’t please everyone,” Mubaiwa said in an interview with Business Weekly.
In a bid to fix problems at Dynamos, Mubaiwa said they held frank discussions on Wednesday with their coaches and tasked them to win their next three matches against Bulawayo City, Chapungu and Harare City.
“We are not happy about our situation, the supporters are not happy, the coaches are not happy, the players are not happy and in fact everyone associated with Dynamos is not happy.
“But we all agreed that we have to collect nine points in the three coming games, starting this weekend and we will meet again to review the situation after those three games,” he said.
Cracks further worsened within the Dynamos camp over the departure of reliable striker Christian Ntouba Epoupa as the club leadership failed to pay the striker his dues on time.
Dynamos owe the Cameroonian $16 000, which includes part of his signing-on fees and unpaid allowances from last season and but they seem unable to find an amicable solution, despite an intervention from club sponsor NetOne.
This has left coach Lloyd Mutasa with a rather blunt strike force.
While Epoupa’s issue took centre stage, Mutasa’s choice of players ahead of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League 2018 squad has been questionable.
Former Harare City striker Kuda Kumwala was a surprise target for Mutasa.
Kumwala was offloaded by Harare City despite the fact they were heading for the second tier league.
Mutasa also controversially rejected the thrilling but troubled Denver Mukamba at the beginning of the season but on Sunday DeMbare watched in disgust, as their team was slayed by the same player.
The youngsters in the team have struggled to sustain the momentum they had during pre-season.
Now the under-fire coach faces a three-match ultimatum in which he must collects nine points.
The players Mutasa condemned are the ones driving other teams, players such as Kelvin Bulaji and Tichaona Chipunza among others.
Coach Tonderai Ndiraya whose contract was not renewed at Dynamos is doing well at Ngezi Platinum working with ex-Dynamos players like Godknows Murwirwa and Walter Mukanga.
Violence has become a common feature at the Glamour Boys matches.
Last month their latest defeat caused pandemonium at Rufaro Stadium with the supporters barricading the exit point, singing derogatory songs, denouncing the club leaders.
Fans were dispersed after police fired teargas.
The supporters of Dynamos at Rufaro are now more like critics rather than supporters.
