Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi-Zimpapers Sports Hub
DYNAMOS are counting the cost of their surprise decision to engage Saul Chaminuka as coach last year.
They have been barred from this season’ CAF Confederation Cup.
The Glamour Boys’s failure to settle the US$13,000, which Chaminuka was awarded by the Labour Court after he contested what he felt was unfair dismissal, has come back to haunt them in a BIG way.
Last-minute attempts to resolve the impasse, after it became clear it would cost them a place in the tournament, failed to provide a breakthrough.
ZIFA confirmed yesterday that DeMbare’s omission from the draw was due to “overdue payables”, in line with the CAF Club Licencing.
This is the second year that they have failed to honour CAF commitments.
Chaminuka was engaged in May last year but was suspended two months later after a difficult run in which the team secured only one win in 10 league matches, and were sliding towards relegation.
DeMbare were found to be in contravention of Article 60 of the CAF Club Licensing Regulations.
Club secretary-general, Divine Sena, said:
“As far as I am concerned, we were supposed to play in the CAF Confederation Cup, only to work up to these developments.
“Obviously, there was an issue of the coach and it was being handled.”
He referred further questions to the DeMbare executive chairman, Vincent Chawonza, who could not be reached
Chaminuka’s handlers yesterday claimed they were not sorely responsible for DemBare’s woes.
“The Dynamos issues are a bit complicated because there are many people who are owed by Dynamos and now they want to use Chaminuka as a scapegoat,” said one of his representatives.
“To be honest, Chaminuka is not responsible for Dynamos’ failure to play CAF football because he is not the one running Dynamos.
“They had a contract which ran until the end of the year. He rendered his services at the time and when the club chose to suspend him, they did not honour their side of the contract.
“So, Chaminuka was owed money by the club and he took his case to the Footballers union of Zimbabwe to seek redress.
“What happened afterwards was beyond him, as the matter is now out of his hands.
“Dynamos have been engaged several times and they were not responsive, only to turn up at the last minute, towards the deadline for the CAF draw.
“They should have just done the right thing and avoided all this confusion.”
He said DeMbare’s omission should serve as a lesson to the Glamour Boys.
“Who doesn’t want Dynamos, or any other Zimbabwean club for that matter, to play in the CAF competitions?
“Instead of blaming other people, Dynamos should just introspect and see if they are doing things in a professional manner they are expected to.
“Right now they have an expat coach and a number of foreign players, this should serve as a lesson to them so that they avoid more problems in the future.”
