Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda and Curtworth Masango
TURBULENT Dynamos are set to appoint their sixth coach in four years after suspending Genesis Mangombe on Tuesday over allegations of insubordination, use of juju and match-fixing.
The Glamour Boys have changed coaches five times since Tonderai Ndiraya left in December 2022, highlighting a cycle of instability even despite recent improvements on the pitch.
Romanian Aristica Cioaba, who holds a UEFA Pro Licence and has coached in Morocco, Egypt and Ghana, is set to be unveiled later this week.
Cioaba boasts a coaching resume that spans nearly two decades across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, bringing with him experience from top-flight leagues in Ghana, Tanzania, Oman, Kuwait, Jordan and Bangladesh. Should his appointment be finalised, Cioaba arrives having won league and cup honours in multiple countries, including the Ghana Premier League title with Aduana Stars and domestic cup success with Oman side Saham.
He also guided Tanzanian giants Azam to that country’s FA Cup title during his tenure between 2017 and 2020.
His credentials will stand out in the local game, where the bulk of the coaches possess CAF A licences, while profile also includes participation in elite continental competitions.
But it is the high turnover of coaches at DeMbare that has been a major talking point since they dropped the Mangombe bombshell. Team manager Ronald “Gidiza” Sibanda took charge of yesterday’s training at Glamis Arena.
Dynamos have not won the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title since Kalisto Pasuwa’s trendsetting four-peat ended in 2014.
On Tuesday, DeMbare stunned the local football fraternity, when they suspended Mangombe, pending investigations into allegations of insubordination, use of juju and match-fixing.
Mangombe was informed of the decision through a loaded letter written by club chief executive officer Desmond Bvute. Dynamos sources told Zimpapers Sports Hub that the hiring of an expatriate coach is part of a grand scheme to establish a long-serving and competent technical team, capable of steering Dynamos back to the top echelons of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
Several coaches have come and gone, but DeMbare have failed to win the championship. Among those coaches who came after Pasuwa include the late David “Yogi” Mandigora, Portuguese gaffer Paolo Jorge Silva, Lloyd Mutasa and Tonderai Ndiraya.
But it is in the period that followed Ndiraya’s departure in December 2022, that Dynamos have hardly spent two seasons under one coach.
Herbert “Jompano” Maruwa, Lloyd “MaBlanyo” Chigowe, Saul Chaminuka, Kelvin Kaindu and Mangombe have taken charge of DeMbare since.
In the last three seasons, the Harare giants have appointed at least two coaches per season. Mangombe’s latest departure has thrust the Dynamos executive back into the spotlight. The youthful gaffer was in his second spell at DeMbare, having first succeeded Maruwa in August 2023, before he was sacked exactly a year later.
Dynamos secretary-general, Divine Sena is, however, adamant the decision to part ways with Mangombe was done “in the best interests of the club.”
“We believe Dynamos is bigger than individuals. As the executive we also want to lead a very successful team, so what we have done is in the best interests of Dynamos.
“We are sure, very soon, people will realise the direction we are taking,” said Sena.
“Fans should not panic, there’s nothing personal with the decision we have made, it was purely a football decision.
“We just want to move the club forward and for that to happen, we should not accept mediocrity,” added the Dynamos secretary-general.
Sena is part of the new executive led by Vincent Chawonza.
This executive has been credited for bringing stability back at Dynamos after years of negative publicity.
Under the leadership of Chawonza, salaries and bonuses are being paid on time.
DeMbare have vastly improved this season as evidenced by their position on the log and points garnered.
Dynamos managed just two wins in 18 matches last season. They have already registered seven this term.
DeMbare won 15 points out of a possible 54 at this stage last season, which is half of this season’s tally. “While we acknowledge the fact that we have done better than last season, we should also remember that Dynamos cannot be measured against mediocrity,” stressed Sena.
Without factoring in the abandoned game against Hardrock, Mangombe has managed 30 points out of a possible 54, which translate to a 56 percent success rate. With seven wins in 18 games, Mangombe has a 39 percent win rate.
Of the five coaches, who took charge of DeMbare after Ndiraya, Kaindu has the best return. The Zambian presided over 11 league games between August and November last season, winning six and drawing five. Kaindu picked 23 points out of a possible 33, translating to a 70 percent success rate.
With six wins in 11 games, the former Bosso coach had a win rate of 55 percent.
Chaminuka, now at TelOne ranks as the worst Dynamos coach in the last five years. He preceded Kaindu last season and managed just one win in 11 games, a paltry win rate of nine percent.
Chaminuka registered eight points out of a possible 33, translating to a 24 percent success rate. Popularly known as MaBlanyo, Chigowe took charge of 23 games between August 10, 2024 and May 13, 2025.
He won five of those games, which puts his win rate at 22 percent. Chigowe registered 24 points out of a possible 69, which translated to a 35 percent success rate. When Mangombe replaced Maruwa in his initial spell, he took charge of 38 games between August 2023 and August 2024.
He won 14, drew 16 and lost eight times.
Mangombe had a 51 percent success rate after registering 58 points out of a possible 114. The man he replaced – Maruwa – had presided over 18 games, winning seven, drawing eight and losing three.
Maruwa, who last night was unveiled as the new Manica Diamonds coach, registered 29 points out of a possible 54 and had a win rate of 38 percent.
