Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi, Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE boycott is over, but the tension isn’t.
Dynamos supporters returned to Rufaro in full voice on Saturday, ending their two-month stay away. But they haven’t backed down.
The fans say they’ll keep protesting from the stands until the club’s leadership addresses what they believe are deep rooted problems dragging the team toward relegation.
Their presence was impossible to ignore. Drums, tambourines, voices raised in unison, Rufaro finally had its soul back as the Harare giants scraped a 1-0 win over MWOS, thanks to a late penalty from Temptation Chiwunga.
Still, the rift between supporters and the club’s top brass remains. Protest placards were everywhere, many aimed at board chairman Bernard Marriot and the team’s management.
Benevolent Vono, secretary-general of the Dynamos Supporters Association (Harare Chapter), told Zimpapers Sports the team’s on field struggles are a direct result of mismanagement. Despite the win, DeMbare are stuck in the relegation zone.
“It’s unheard of that we play in the preliminary round of any cup domestic competition,” said Vono.
“On top of that we are in relegation, and we have withdrawn from the Confederation Cup. The challenges are too many. There is need for the leadership to address the root causes of these problems. That is the reason we had called the boycott, to push them to act but there hasn’t been any progress in that respect and the team continued to suffer.
“So, for the sake of the team, we have called off the boycott. I think when we started, we made it clear that it will be for a time.
“We agreed as supporters that we need to help our team survive relegation and at the same time show Marriot and those in management of the club that we are not happy with the way the club is operating, which is affecting results.
“Of course, it’s their club but as supporters we are also important stakeholders, who should be heard when we raise concerns. So, we will continue with the protests and the placards in the stadium until such a time when we see that things have gone back to normal.
“We are mobilising the supporters to come in their numbers and support the team. The boys need all the support at this point,” said Vono.
Dynamos are second from the bottom with 19 points, seven adrift of safety, with 10 games left in the season.
Chris Romario Musekiwa, a long time cheerleader, was a force in the stands on Saturday and believes the win could be a turning point.
“I think it came at the most opportune time, the team can build from the big performance going forward. We urge the coaches to keep up the winning formula.
“DeMbare should not go down, it’s a big team. The return of Denver Mukamba brought some quality and creativity, which was missing in the squad.
“Also, thumbs up to the 12th player. The Vietnam Stand was in a no-nonsense mood, the electrifying atmosphere inspired the team to a well-deserved victory,” he said.
Stand-in coach Thomas Ruzive, who filled in for absent Zambian gaffer Kelvin Kaindu, praised the players’ response in his debut game.
“We told them to work on changing their attitude. It seems like some of the boys had been affected mentally because of the poor run of results. But as a player you don’t have to show that you have surrendered the fight.
“This is football; you don’t give up too easily. So, we expect to see more energy and fighting spirit now that they have tasted victory against a team at the top end of the table.
“At the same time, they shouldn’t get carried away by this one win,” said Ruzive.
Dynamos face Yadah tomorrow at Ngoni in a Chibuku Super Cup preliminary round clash. A win there, would set up a meeting with Simba Bhora in the first round.
