Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
FORGOTTEN midfielder Denver Mukamba has resurfaced back in the trenches that he best understands — the football pitches.
After going on an as yet unexplained hiatus, Mukamba has returned to the club that gave him his fame — Dynamos — amid indications that he could bounce back at the ailing Castle Lager Premier Soccer League giants.
Should a deal be made between the 2012 Castle Soccer Star and the club, it would be his fourth coming at Dynamos with whom he has had an on-off relationship over the last dozen years.
Dynamos are in a quandary, their glamour gone and instead the stark reality of being relegated since their formation in 1963 looms large.
An underwhelming season has seen Dynamos change coaches with Lloyd “Ma Blanyo” Chigowe booted out for a poor start and Saul Chaminuka coming on board.
Chaminuka has also not found it rosy in the games he has been in charge of Dynamos so far with his team sitting perilously in 17th place after managing 15 points from 18 matches and just a rung above basement side Kwekwe United.
Both Chaminuka and the club management have been sifting through the market to bring in reinforcements as DeMbare seek to swim against the tide and drag themselves out of the quagmire.
And one of the popular sons to have emerged from Dynamos in the new millennium has presented himself to Chaminuka, training with the club this week.
He is not the only player auditioning to take one of the five available slots with fellow former Dynamos players Wisdom Mutasa and Ocean Mushure also part of the exercise.
Chaminuka seems to have already identified the players he wants to fit in and galvanise the squad but the availability of Mukamba could tempt him into a rethink.
At 32, Mukamba, who has been quiet since leaving Scottland at the beginning of the year and after helping the Mabvuku outfit to win promotion, might still be carrying some strength in his legs to help the team that propelled him to stardom avoid the axe.
The Dynamos management have also been jolted into action to avert the ignominy of being the executive committee that presided over the storied Harare giants’ demise.
They are understood to have been working round the clock to augment their coach’s search for more material to add some depth and experience to their squad.
Dynamos cannot afford the luxury to experiment anymore as they have to play a huge chunk of their remaining games in order to steer out of relegation.
But the focus of attention is on the head of their technical crew — Chaminuka — whose work at the moment involves a careful selection of personnel to lure to DeMbare during this mid-season transfer window.
Chaminuka is expected to meet with the club bosses to deliberate on their survival plan today with executive committee member in charge of marketing David Chikomo yesterday confirming that a number of unattached players has expressed eagerness to join Dynamos.
“Look, there are so many players training with the team (including Mukamba).
“But obviously as the executive we don’t choose for the coach who to sign,” Chikomo said.
“That’s his area and we are expecting to meet him tomorrow (today) for deliberations.
“I am sure the coach and his technical team are doing something and they will tell us whether they will be signing two, three or so many players.
“It’s their own strategy as the team aims to survive the chop.
“So yeah, there might be many players at training but it all comes down to the coach and his technical team. That’s all I can say for now.”
Mukamba first made his name at Dynamos after moving from Kiglon back in 2011 and was voted the Soccer Star of the Year the following year.
In that memorable 2012 season, German coach Klaus Dieter Pagels was so charmed by Mukamba, he installed him as his Warriors captain.
Mukamba then left Dynamos, briefly returned in 2018 after having had some stints in South Africa before leaving for CAPS United, Chapungu and Ngezi Platinum Stars.
The lanky midfielder bounced back at the Glamour Boys again two years ago before being lured by Scottland when the Mabvuku side were still in Division One.
His somewhat wayward behaviour is always a part of him that makes it sometimes difficult to trust him but there is no doubting his abilities in the field of play.
Chaminuka has since confirmed that he would be “signing five new players this window as we want to survive relegation.
“I am sure if we do so, all will be well for the team.”
Other than looking at outfield players only, Dynamos will also be signing a new goalkeeper to add depth to this department which has also shown its shortfalls in the first 19 games of the season.
They already have a Zambian goalkeeper training with them while the Harare giants could also resume their love affair with West African players amid revelations that they are also on the verge of signing a Ghanaian forward to boost their toothless attack.
