Online Reporter
Mugove Chigada-Deputy Sports Editor
SIXTY-TWO years after their formation, Dynamos’ destiny will be decided in the next 12 to 13 days.
The once African giants are still in the relegation matrix after a disastrous campaign, recording one of the worst starts to a season in decades.
However, the unbeaten run under coach Kelvin Kaindu has given them a fighting chance.
The 1-1 draw with Yadah at Ngoni Stadium on Saturday pushed them closer to that dream, albeit a dream that makes a mockery of their illustrious history.
But for them to be where they are, they have had to dig deep and, in the process, break a lot of records befitting champions in the second half of the season. Sadly, they were not contenders but merely fighting for their lives.
But as they await the judgement day, the class of 2025 deserves to hold their heads up high and be counted.
That can only be better understood by appreciating their current position and then going back to matchday 19, one of Dynamos’ lowest moments of the season.
“Despite the points that we keep on collecting and all the games that we have been playing, we are still down there,” Dynamos coach Kelvin Kaindu could not have put it better.
The following permutations best give Dynamos’ position in the relegation fight:
Dynamos can still survive even if they lose to FC Platinum while Triangle beat GreenFuel, Manica Diamonds beat Bikita Minerals and Simba Bhora beat or draw with Yadah.
Dynamos can still survive relegation by avoiding a heavy defeat to FC Platinum while GreenFuel beat Triangle, Manica Diamonds draw with Bikita Minerals, and Simba Bhora beat or draw with Yadah.
Dynamos will need a point to survive regardless of the result from Manica Diamonds v Bikita Minerals game, regardless of the result from GreenFuel and Triangle game, and even if Yadah win against Simba.
Dynamos will also survive with an outright win over FC Platinum.
When you go back to their lowest moment of the season, matchday 19, you realise this has been a mission impossible. For the record, since the Castle Lager Premiership was increased from 16 to 18 teams in 2017, no club collected 15 points or less in 19 games and then went on to survive relegation.
The Glamour Boys are about to break that record.
It is difficult to understand how they have made this remarkable recovery, from 15 points in 19 games. Neutrals have pointed to the fact that Dynamos have never been bad, but poor decisions by the Executive in terms of appointment of coaches created the mess.
If, at all, the decisions were clownish by nature, it has fortunately given DeMbare a chance to break an insane record.
The closest that a club fought back to avoid relegation after 19 games is that of Yadah, who managed 17 points in 2023, two more points than Dynamos at the same stage, and went on to survive. This is after they added 23 points in their last 15 games.
Dynamos have already added 23 points since week 19 when they just had 15 points — their lowest point this season.
If they can go on to win against FC Platinum in their last game of the season, they will make it 26 points, a better success rate than Yadah’s, who last held the survival comeback record.
Saul Chaminuka, who had taken over Dynamos at that point this season, painted a bleak future. “Relegation has been a matter of emergency from the beginning of the season . . . We have been failing to score goals, and in the last two games, we have failed to score a goal,” he said. To better understand Dynamos’ lowest moment this season and appreciate where they are now, it is important to note that during the period from 2017, there are 18 teams in six different seasons that collected at least 15 points or better but still ended up relegated by the end of the season.
In 2024, Bulawayo City, on 23 points, were eight points better than Dynamos right now but still got relegated. In 2023, both Triangle and Sheasham were relegated by the end of the season, despite collecting 20 points in the first 19 games, five points better than Dynamos this season. The full list of clubs that have managed 15 points or better after 19 games but still got relegated includes Bulawayo Chiefs, Chegutu Pirates, Sheasham, Triangle, Cranborne Bullets, Harare City, Bulawayo City, Tenax, Whawha, Cha-pungu, TelOne, Hwange, Mushowani, Nichrut, Shabanie Mine, and Hwange.
The likes of Bulawayo City, Hwange, and Harare City found themselves in such scenarios more than one season. That is how you can better define the world that Kelvin Kaindu and his charges have pulled off.
It will be a shame if they cannot reach the Promised Land.
