Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze
Zimpapers Sports Hub
Following a turbulent three weeks in their camp, Dynamos have now mutually parted ways with coach Genesis Mangombe and his assistants after agreeing to withdraw all allegations against them.
Mangombe and his lieutenants — Newsome Mutema, Tonderai Marume, and goalkeepers’ coach Britto Gwere — had been on suspension over claims of insubordination, use of juju, and match-manipulation.
However, following Monday’s meeting with the Sports and Recreation National Workers Union, Dynamos said all charges had been dropped.
“All allegations relating to match-fixing, use of juju and insubordination have been dropped and withdrawn,” the club said in a statement.
“The suspensions were uplifted. Parties agreed to mutually terminate their contractual relationship.”
Mangombe, who has been conspicuous by his absence from the Dynamos bench in their last two games, including an emphatic 4-0 triumph over AGAMA at Rufaro last Sunday, their biggest win of the season so far, had been spotted in Chiredzi as he sought to rejoin ailing Triangle United.
Now, following Monday’s indaba, the four coaches have been issued clearance letters and are free to join Triangle.
Dynamos, on their part, have since appointed Romanian Aristica Cioaba as technical director.
The expatriate presided over his first DeMbare game in that rout of AGAMA, immediately endearing himself to the Dynamos fans in the vociferous Vietnam stand.
With the uncertainty over Mangombe’s future which Dynamos cleared, the Harare giants now shift their attention to the conclusion of their abandoned game against Hardrock, scheduled for Baobab tomorrow.
The Premier Soccer League ordered the remaining 14 minutes of the aborted match to be played behind closed doors after crowd trouble on May 24 wrecked the initial encounter at Chahwanda with the scores at 1-1.
Both clubs were fined US$10,000.
Hardrock must also play one game behind closed doors in terms of the ruling.
Complications also remain as the PSL ruling indicates that the same personnel from the abandoned game should feature in tomorrow’s 14-minute game.
But both Dynamos and Hardrock have joined the rest of the league in making some changes in the on-going mid-season transfer window.
Mangombe’s exit from Dynamos and Junior Makunike’s departure from Hardrock are some of the key developments.
For Dynamos, the only survivor on the technical bench from the one which took charge of the May 24 encounter is team manager Ronald “Gidiza’’ Sibanda.
Although he faces the possibility of being reduced to direct operations from the terraces, Cioaba is confident that his side are in good shape and should be able to withstand the Hardrock pressure and prevail.
“The team is very good, they have the capability to win any game in this league, and the only thing that needs to be dealt with is their confidence levels,” he said.
“This is something that we are working on, because in the games that I have watched them you notice that a player can be very good today and tomorrow he is off, so they need love and support to lift their confidence.”
A match before an empty stadium will also provide a huge test for Dynamos, whose 12th man has often been instrumental in lifting them on the occasions they would have been on the back foot.
