Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
DYNAMOS have meticulously been stuffing up every gap ahead of the Harare Derby against CAPS United at Rufaro on Sunday with the club leadership yesterday taking time to address players before witnessing the entire morning training session.
The Glamour Boys have been promised a luxury bus by Harare businessman Wicknell Chivayo, if they emerge victorious in the first leg of the derby showdown against their arch-rivals.
The players then appeared to be taking advantage of the high stakes and sought to get the executive to pay off their outstanding sign-on fees by threatening to stage a sit-in.
But, to their credit, the DeMbare bosses acted swiftly and addressed their concerns ensuring an uninterrupted schedule for coach Genesis Mangombe and his charges.
The players were buoyed during the drills and small-sided games that formed part of the training session yesterday with only Prosper Kafelanjila and Ghanaian striker Frank Agyemang doing lighter work as they are recovering from knocks.
Cameroonian goalkeeper Finia Nfor, who has been out for over a month after undergoing a jaw operation, following his injury in a match against Agama, also had his specialised fitness drills with Conditioning Coach Thulani Munzabwa.
Dynamos’ chief executive officer, Desmond Bvute, said: “It’s all systems go at Dynamos.
There was absolutely no threat of a sit-in by the players.
“I can tell you that the players addressed their concerns through the right channels on Tuesday, asking the manager (Ronald Sibanda) to reach out to the executive.
“We acknowledge that we paid some of the players partly in sign-on fees. We are up to date when it comes to salaries, allowances and winning bonuses.
“They needed clarity on the sign-on fees part. That’s why we, as the executive, decided to come here at the training venue to make things clear for them,’’ Bvute said.
“They have already started receiving the outstanding sign-on fees and the process is ongoing. We are really committed to fulfil our obligations as the club executive.
“The good thing is that the players never decided to down tools, but they communicated their concerns through the manager which is the proper channel. Kudos to them for that.
“Before they started training, we addressed them. Then they promised to give it their all in the Harare Derby.”
Coach Mangombe said the Glamour Boys’ preparations are going on well, and he is optimistic the blue half of the city will be smiling by sunset on Sunday.
“As the coach, I am very happy that the executive including chairman Vincent Chawonza, secretary-general Divine Sena and chief executive Bvute have come to address the players before we started training.
“That’s no small amount of motivation. The players need that ahead of a big match against our rivals CAPS United who are also on top of the log,” said Mangombe.
“Their presence during the training session means a lot to the players and the technical staff. We really feel appreciated.
“The preparations ahead of the match against CAPS United are going on well. We have almost full house save for the fact that we will be without our suspended vice-captain Tellmore Pio.
“We are keen to go out there and showcase the Dynamos spirit. This is Dynamos, and there is a lot at stake when we face CAPS United.
“The gap between us and CAPS United is five points and we cannot afford to let them stretch it further. This is the consensus at Dynamos right now.”
Besides the allure of the pledged bus, Dynamos have also bulked up winning bonuses for the match against CAPS United.
