Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi-Zimpapers Sports Hub
DYNAMOS executive chairman Vincent Chawonza has taken full responsibility for the administrative failures that resulted in the Zimbabwean giants’ exclusion from this season’s CAF Confederation Cup.
In a public address yesterday, Chawonza apologised to supporters and stakeholders following confirmation that the Glamour Boys had embarrassingly been omitted from the Confederation Cup draw conducted at the Confederation of African Football headquarters in Cairo, Egypt on Thursday.
Dynamos were ruled ineligible after failing to satisfy the CAF Club Licensing requirements due to outstanding debts owed to former coach Saul Chaminuka.
The Club Licensing regulations seek to professionalise football across the continent and DeMbare were found wanting on sections of the strict regulations.
Addressing the matter for the first time since the nation awoke to the surprise news that Dynamos had failed to meet the Confederation Cup competition registration, Chawonza said the disappointment could have been avoided and accepted accountability as the club’s executive chairman.
“Firstly, I would like to apologise to our supporters, to our stakeholders, our sponsors, our board and every stakeholder in the football family and football-loving Zimbabweans for the failure for Dynamos to complete the CAF registration in time,” Chawonza said.
“I believe that as the Executive Chairman this could have been handled differently and we could have done it better than the way it came out.
“But I’m not finger-pointing or accusing anyone. I would like that to just to say I’m sorry and, also, I take full responsibility as the chairman in actually implementing this.”
Dynamos were penalised by CAF after failing to meet the Club Licensing regulations because of the “overdue payables” to their former coach Chaminuka.
The debt, believed to be about US$13 000, was inherited from the club’s previous administration.
However, Chawonza stressed that the current leadership was committed to improving governance and ensuring such lapses do not happen again.
With continental football now off the table, Chawonza said the club’s focus would shift to domestic competitions.
Dynamos return to action this afternoon when they face Hwange at Colliery in the Round of 32 of the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup.
They are also set to begin their Chibuku Super Cup title defence against Chaminuka’s TelOne at Rufaro on August 16.
Chawonza appealed to the DeMbare fans to put behind them the CAF disappointment and rally behind the team.
“Let’s remain united as one family,” he said.
Chawonza also revealed that Dynamos have appointed a reputable firm of chartered accountants to audit the club’s finances and strengthen its financial management systems.
“As we also rebuild this great club, you must also know that there will be challenges and headwinds that I promise you as the executive chairman that I’m going to conquer.
“We do not only inherit successes and these many titles, the history, we also inherit challenges and problems that were created by our predecessors.
“So, it’s pointless for us to be finger pointing and washing our dirty linen in public. I promise you that we’ve put processes and systems in place to make sure that all these things will not happen again in future,” said Chawonza.
