Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
DYNAMOS players are still owed 60 percent of their signing-on fees and outstanding bonuses as fresh financial and leadership problems rock the Harare giants ahead of tomorrow’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer derby against CAPS United at Rufaro .
The players received only 40 percent of their signing-on fees earlier in the year and were promised the balance by July, but with eight matches remaining in the Premiership season, the money is still outstanding.
They are also owed bonuses from the 1-1 draw against defending champions Scottland at Rufaro on August 19.
Against that background, the timing of club owner Bernard Marriot’s trip to Durban with his family this week has caused further frustration within the dressing room.
The turmoil comes just two days before DeMbare face CAPS United, with technical director Aristica Cioaba, who was expected back in the country last night, ordering the squad into a two-day camp in an attempt to keep the players focused on the derby.
“We are being told to fight for the badge, but our dues are not being taken seriously by the employer,” players told Zimpapers Sports Hub.
“Our signing-on fees have not been paid in full since January, then we see pictures of the boss on holiday and we are expected to continue with life as normal.
“Have they even considered how the foreign players are surviving?
“Morale has been low since July and the lack of consistency in results says a lot about how we feel.”
DeMbare also go into the derby looking to recover from a 1-0 defeat to Chicken Inn, their first loss in the second half of the season and only their third league defeat of the campaign.
But the money concerns are only part of the problems surrounding the club.
Dynamos have also been rocked by divisions within their leadership, with chief executive Desmond Bvute and secretary-general Divine Sena reportedly tendering their resignations.
Club chairman Vincent Chawonza had earlier written to the pair in correspondence that effectively froze them out of club business amid disagreements within the executive based on questionable corporate governance matters.
Relations between Chawonza, Bvute and Sena had reportedly deteriorated over the past two months, with attempts to resolve the dispute failing as Marriot is still to meet with the trio.
Sources said the leadership impasse had also complicated efforts by players and officials to establish who should address their outstanding payments.
Creditors have also been following up on money they are owed by the club.
Former coach Kelvin Kaindu recently approached Dynamos over outstanding dues and is understood to be considering taking the matter to FIFA if no resolution is reached.
Attempts to get responses from members of the Dynamos executive were unsuccessful by the time of going to print, with those contacted indicating they would revert.
An insider said the signing-on fee arrears dated back to pre-season.
“The club recruited heavily before going for another recruitment drive during the mid-season break,” said the insider.
“Winning bonuses are pegged at US$250 against the smaller teams and US$400 for the big games, while a draw attracts US$250.
“Based on the agreement, the money is now overdue and we need answers.
“It is not about being greedy or failing to understand the club’s situation. It is about respect and honouring the contracts.”
Cioaba is also expected to resolve Nathan Mutasa’s disciplinary case after the forward was frozen out of first-team training earlier this week following a confrontation with members of the technical team.
But as Dynamos prepare to face their biggest rivals on Saturday, the players say the financial issues cannot simply be pushed aside.
“We have families to feed and bills to pay,” said the insider.
“They cannot ask us to fight for the badge when our issues are being ignored.”
