Chronicle Editor
Zimpapers Sports Hub
PREMIERSHIP giants Dynamos are in a mess again, amid reports of an implosion that saw assistant coach Murape Murape and sporting director Richard Chihoro being suspended.
Team physiotherapist, Admire Pataingwa has also been suspended while team manager Harry Lusengo’s fate on charges of gross misconduct and for bringing the name of the club into disrepute is still to be determined by the executive committee.
Unlike the trio of Murape, Chihoro and Pataingwa, Harry’s case is somewhat of a conundrum for the executive committee as he is the son of the powerful Dynamos board chairman Bernard Marriot Lusengo.
However, such is the seriousness with which Dynamos are treating cases, linked to gross indiscipline that Murape, Chihoro and Pataingwa have been suspended without benefits.
According to his letter of suspension, issued by club secretary-general Webster Marechera, Murape is charged with verbally abusing and threatening to assault Dynamos executive committee member in charge of marketing David Chikomo.
In the letter dated 26 September, which Zimpapers Sports Hub got sight of yesterday, the incident happened at the end of Dynamos’ Premiership match against TelOne, which ended 0-0 in Gweru on 8 September 8.
“We refer to the recent verbal insults that you hurled at Mr David Chikomo on Sunday 8th September 2024 after the league match between TelOne FC and Dynamos FC,’’ reads part of the letter.
“Please take note that you are being charged with contravening the following section of SI 15 of 2006 known as the National employment Code of Conduct, Section 4 (a) “Any conduct or omission inconsistent with the fulfilment of the express or implied conditions of one’s contract”
“The grounds for the charges are that it is alleged that you verbally attacked Mr David Chikomo and threatened to beat him up in the presence of other club technical staff.
“Despite intervention from the other technical staff you continued to vomit a barrage of derogatory and unprintable words at Chikomo and further accused the executive committee of misusing funds from Sakunda.’’
Marechera alleges that it is not the first this season that Murape had insulted and disrespected the executive committee.
“This follows similar outbursts on 4th September when Dynamos played ZPC Kariba in a Chibuku Cup tournament.
“Further, you repeated your disdain and disrespect of the club leadership at a meeting held on 9th September 2024 in the presence of the Board Chairman (Marriot Lusengo).
“In the premises, your conduct has left the Club with no option but to invoke section 6 (1) of the National Employment Code of Conduct (SI 15 of 2006) and suspend you from work without pay and benefits with effect from Thursday 26th September 2024.
“You shall be shortly served with the notification to attend a disciplinary hearing which notification shall fully spell out the allegations and subsequent charges as provided for in the National Employment Code of Conduct.
“During your period of suspension, you are not allowed to visit any of the Dynamos facilities including attending the team’s training sessions or matches or even to phone any of the Dynamos players, technical officials or executive members.
“Any Club property in your possession should be surrendered to the Club Security Personnel forthwith,’’ added Marechera.
This is not the first time that both Murape and Chihoro have been suspended for either indiscipline or misconduct, although they have always found a way of bouncing back. In his case, however, Chihoro is being accused of insubordination.
“We refer to the recent meeting held on 9th September 2024 between the Executive Committee and Board Chairman with yourself in attendance.
“Please take note that you are being charged with contravening the following section of SI 15 of 2006 known as the National employment Code of Conduct, Section 4 (a) “Any conduct or omission inconsistent with the fulfilment of the express or implied conditions of one’s contract”
“The grounds for the charges are that during this meeting you made comments initially directed to the executive member marketing insinuating that he hated former players and also that the executive committee didn’t like you as an individual,’’ part of Chihoro’s letter reads.
“You further went on to allege that the current executive committee didn’t want you back in the club and you had to come back into the system ‘by ginya’ (force) – against the wishes of the executive.
Pataingwa, a largely unknown figure in coach Lloyd Chigowe’s backroom staff faces allegations of trying to create a financial crisis at Dynamos.
“The above matter refers. Dynamos Football Club hereby confirm your suspension from work following your attempt to create a financial crisis ahead of our CAF Confederation Cup preliminary match against Orapa United FC thus bringing the club into disrepute.
“Your action was meant to create a crisis within the camp over matters, which the club had serviced.
“A detailed charge sheet shall be served to you this week. Meanwhile you are with immediate effect, not allowed to perform any club duties, including but not limited to attending training sessions and matches, pending finalisation of the Disciplinary proceedings that you shall attend’’.
While Harry Lusengo’s charge sheet has not been drawn up, there are reports that he is facing serious allegations bordering on smuggling drugs into the camp following a nasty incident at Francistown hotel ahead of DeMbare’s Confederation Cup match against Orapa United of Botswana.
Online Reporter