Chronicle Editor
Langton Nyakwenda, Harare Bureau
FACED with a possible player exodus, while on the brink of their return to continental football, Harare giants Dynamos have moved swiftly and paid outstanding signing-on fees to most of their key players, including Soccer Star of the Year runner-up Donald Mudadi.
DeMbare were battling a possible massive player turnover following their failure to settle 2023 signing-on fees for the majority of players they acquired at the beginning of the year.
Some of the players were planning to leave the reigning Chibuku Super Cup champions and forego the chance to play in the 2024 Caf Confederation Cup because of the financial impasse.
There are also players, who include vice-captain Emmanuel Jalai, the versatile Shadreck Nyahwa, Ghanaian forward Emmanuel Paga, goalkeeper Prince Tafiremutsa and crowd favourite Denver Mukamba whose contracts are expiring at midnight today.
Soccer Star of the Year finalist Tanaka “Kante” Shandirwa has reverted to being a Yadah Stars player, following the expiry of his one-season loan, but indications are that the industrious midfielder will extend his stay at DeMbare.
But Dynamos seem to have lost their bid to retain winger Issa Sadiki, who is now finalising talks with Premiership runners-up Manica Diamonds.
Midfielder Junior Makunike has also left Dynamos and reunited with coach Tonderai Ndiraya after signing for ambitious Simba Bhora.
Given the need to stem the player exodus and tie them to new deals at the club, there was no festive holidays for Dynamos chairman Moses Maunganidze and his executive members.
They were busy engaging players, amid reports that the club has so far doled out over US$80 000 to settle the signing-on fees.
A relieved Maunganidze insisted that his management would keep the side which finished third on the log standings intact.
“There will be a few additions to the team as recommended by the technical team and approved by the executive committee,’’ he said.
The move to settle outstanding fees has ensured that the bulk of their players will stay on for the 2024 season.
It is also a rarity at the volatile club, which has notoriously been known to rebuild their squads at the start of each season over the last few years.
Skipper and centreback Frank Makarati still has one more year at Dynamos and will stay at the club after his handlers TKT Sports Agency denied reports that the Warriors defender was set for a trial stint with financially struggling South African topflight outfit Moroka Swallows.
Such is the crisis at Swallows that they failed to fulfil two of their DStv Premiership assignments in order to sort the issue of their striking players.
“On behalf of Moroka Swallows FC, an apology is extended to all affected parties due to the cancellation of the following games against Mamelodi Sundowns (December 27) and Golden Arrows (yesterday).
“Due to an unresolved dispute between payers and management that has resulted in management having to request cancellation of the two remaining games of this year from the PSL to allow it time to correct the situation,’’ read part of a statement issued by Swallows.
In a bid to avert such a scenario ahead of their return to continental football for the first time in exactly a decade, Maunganidze and his executive have had to work round the clock during the Christmas holidays.
Dynamos also still have the Moyo twins Kevin and Elvis, Arthur Musiiwa, Emmanuel Ziocha, Tendai Matindife, Keith
Madera, Eli Ilunga, Tinashe Makanda and goalkeeper Taimon Mvula contracted to them.
It has, however, emerged that Mvula might be offloaded before the start of the 2024 season.
The Glamour Boys are also preparing a three-year contract for coach Genesis “Kaka” Mangombe, who guided them to the Chibuku Super Cup glory, after succeeding Herbert Maruwa on an interim basis in August.
“The team will remain intact and there is no overhaul, but in fact there’s going to be a galvanisation of each department,” added Maunganidze.
Bulawayo Chiefs top scorer and Soccer Star of the Year second runner-up, Obriel Chirinda, is a major target for DeMbare but no official talks have begun yet between the two clubs.
But talks are progressing in earnest for players whose contracts are expiring today.
“For those with contracts expiring on 31st December (today), due process is underway to ensure both retention and extension, and so far, we are 80 percent done.
“There was no holiday for us as the leadership of the club.
“Given that the players are the greatest assets of the club, we have been burning the candle overnight in order to ensure that as many of our players have contracts stretching to 2025.
“Our thrust as a club is not about the longevity of the contract, but it’s about attaining the key deliverables of the employment contract so that player retention becomes a cycle premised on return on investment,” Maunganidze said.
“It has to be a win-win situation between the club and the player. We also have very good youngsters from our development team and it’s imperative that we give effect to that feeder structure by gradually bringing one or two into the senior team at every opportunity.
“We are not rebuilding but we are reinforcing the blue juggernaut in preparation for the African Safari.
“The club will officially advise when all work that is underway has been finalised and any player who will be released will be advised through the proper channels.”
Bongani Ndlovu