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Zimpapers Sports Hub
DYNAMOS have once again raised genuine fears about the threat that some dysfunctional entry points at Rufaro could have to their smooth-staging of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League derby showdown against CAPS United tomorrow.
DeMbare will be the home team in the latest edition of this famous encounter.
On the back of their resurgence in the Premiership, in which they are still to lose a game since they elevated Lloyd Chigowe to be head coach, Dynamos are expecting a bigger crowd for the clash against their bitter rivals.
But their plans to stage a memorable derby on and off the field are under threat amid fears that the raging contractual dispute between Harare City Council and a local company could create chaos at some of the entry points.
It has emerged that not much ground has been covered in the dispute between the municipality and the contractor who installed electronic turnstiles at Rufaro.
This is despite earlier assurances by Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume that the matter would have been resolved before the end last month.
According to indications from their pre-match meeting with the council’s stadium authorities and the Premier Soccer League officials, Dynamos are looking at opening 30 of Rufaro’s 36 entry points.
Dynamos chairman Moses Maunganidze is hopeful that there will be no hitches on Match-day.
Maunganidze said his club’s hands were tied in that they can only hope that the turnstiles are in a functioning state whether electronic or manual.
The DeMbare boss also revealed his club’s preparedness for the derby showdown, which includes increased security by way of the Zimbabwe Republic police details and the ancillary security provided by marshals.
“At Rufaro 18 gates have been installed with the new electronic turnstiles and 18 more still have the old system.
“However, all the 18 gates with electronic turnstiles have the systems disabled, meaning they are running on manual.
“We just have to contend with what is there,” Maunganidze said.
He said the deployment plan they have includes assigning 110 police details, 30 Dynamos marshals, 20 from CAPS United and 37 private security officers.
But that plan could also be wrecked by Harare City’s failure to meet their financial obligations to the contractor amid indications that the turnstiles under dispute could now be eventually decommissioned.
“To us, we are still aggrieved by them not paying. We will soon revert to decommissioning the turnstiles as they (Harare City Council) have clearly shown us that they do not need them.
“We have new contracts elsewhere in Zimbabwe where we are sure our services will be appreciated,” sources at the company said.
There are also reports that although Mafume is keen and committed to overseeing the refurbishment of Rufaro, the Mayor is being pegged back by internal politics within his own Council. Among those fingered for derailing progress is the Harare City finance department.
“It appears a case of sabotage because the Mayor had wanted works at Rufaro completed by now as he also wants Council to work on reviving such venues like Gwanzura and Dzivaresekwa stadiums through some private partnerships.
“But those in the finance department are among those derailing the process because they know that if they do not pay, they will frustrate the contractors,” sources close to the goings on at the municipality said.
Repeated efforts to get a comment from the acting Harare City Council finance director, Godefrey Kusangaya, did not yield results as he did not respond to questions sent to him by Zimpapers Sports Hub.
Mafume had however, been adamant that the matter would have been resolved by September 20
The mayor acknowledged the importance of functional turnstiles at Rufaro, which if left unresolved would compromise security and also result in clubs losing potential revenue at the entry points.
“They are being resolved. It’s a matter of payment and I am sure a payment plan is being worked on and that will be sorted within the next 48 hours.
“It’s (electronic turnstiles) a major issue so it has to be done well and it will be done,” Mafume said then.
However, the stand-off between Harare City Council and Lonsbury Industries remains unresolved, with Dynamos, looking to grapple with some financial leakages due to the absence of an inefficient turnstile system.
Online Reporter