Sundaymail Editor
Langton Nyakwenda
AFTER spending over US$150 000 in the transfer market in the last two seasons with no tangible results to show, Dynamos have now decided to change tact.
The 10-plus signings made by new coach Herbert Maruwa actually bring DeMbare’s total spending to over US$200 000.
Overall, the club has signed more than 50 players in the last four years as they tried to win the league title that has eluded them since 2014.
Tonderai Ndiraya, who was fired after failing to deliver the title last season, bought the bulk of the players.
He exceeded the US$60 000 provided by club sponsor Sakunda Holdings for signings.
There are claims that there was a plot at the club to deliberately stifle junior structures in order to continue buying players on the market.
Why?
Because some members of the executive benefitted financially from the sign-on fees, as they allegedly got kickbacks from the deals.
Consequently, club owner Bernard Marriot cracked the whip and overhauled the executive last week.
The restructure claimed three executive members, including treasurer Moses Chikwariro.
Junior football development enthusiast Vincent Chawonza is now the new vice chairperson, deputising Moses Maunganidze.
Former Lengthens director Musa Beadle Gwasira is the new club treasurer, while Clemence Chimbare is now the new board member in charge of development.
The move is part of a new strategic plan to achieve targeted results by 2025.
The revamped Dynamos executive will hold its first meeting this week, in what could be a no-holds-barred indaba.
There is a feeling among the new executive members that Dynamos should not continue buying new players year in, year out.
“We must not be buying players; we must be selling them,” Chawonza told The Sunday Mail Sport yesterday.
“Football business is about developing talent and selling it, rather than striving to earn money through gate takings.
“You cannot continue to be rebuilding every year, buying 13 or 14 players each season,” he said.
Chawonza was secretary of the committee in charge of junior football development at Dynamos prior to his latest appointment.
The 40-year-old businessman is a former footballer, who played in Division One with clubs like Masvingo United and Shabanie Mine.
Chimbare, who will now be in charge of development, is a public prosecutor, while Gwasira is a former Premier Soccer League club owner and a Harare City councillor.
Chawonza says the new members have come in to put Dynamos on the right path.
“There is no coordination between junior teams and the senior team at Dynamos. The juniors are doing their own things with no resources and no expertise.
“That is what we want to change because we cannot be buying players every transfer window. Dynamos is a big institution that should develop and sell players abroad.
“The money is in selling players and not gate takings,” said Chawonza.
Dynamos junior teams, he added, operated without a budget and were deliberately sidelined to pave the way for recruitment of new players.
Interestingly, most of the players DeMbare signed in January passed through the club’s junior ranks at some point.
“A certain percentage of our earnings should be given to the juniors.
“They are our future, so we have to deliberately give them support and also the opportunity to break into the senior team,” he said.
But Dynamos are a demanding team.
Their die-hard fans want the club to win the league every year.
How then will the new executive balance development and winning trophies?
“In football, you can’t develop and chase trophies at the same time. It’s a very difficult thing to balance,” says Chawonza.
“But the fans want to see improvement, they want to see the flair, they want to see development or you should be winning games.
“If you are not developing, then you have to be winning trophies. If you are not winning the trophies, then show that you are developing and there is a deliberate move towards that, and it can be seen by all.”
The new executive will give new coach Maruwa time to build and develop the team. However, expectations to win the league title this season remain high.
“We will be patient with our coaches so that they develop their project.
“Our communication is clear to our fans on what we are trying to achieve.
“If what we are saying and what is happening on the field is co-ordinated, then the fans will believe us.”
■ Twitter: @LangtonGuraz
Online Reporter