Online Reporter
Petros Kausiyo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
AILING Harare giants Dynamos sank to new depths yesterday after world soccer governing body FIFA handed them a transfer ban which bars them from registering players locally and internationally.
Dynamos become the third local Premier Soccer League side after Yadah Stars and Highlanders to fall foul of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s rule book inside the last two years for failing to pay-off their expatriate staff.
According to the FIFA FDC ruling, Dynamos are currently owing their former Ghanaian imports — winger Emmanuel Paga and midfielder Frederick Ansah Botchway — US$8 500 and US$10 000 respectively.
Dynamos, already battling with relegation worries after only managing just one win in 13 starts and accumulating a measly nine points, which is one third of what leaders MWOS, have clearly been out of depth.
But the desperate bid that new coach Saul Chaminuka has of boosting his squad during the mid-season transfer window has been pegged back and could actually fall flat if the Dynamos management do not urgently raise the US$18 500 to pay off Paga and Botchway in the next 45 days.
In outlining the ruling, FIFA gave the time-lines by which Dynamos must pay off the West Africans.
The FDC communication to Dynamos in respect of Paga’s case read in part:
“Pursuant to art. 24 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, if full payment (including all applicable interest) is not made within 45 days of notification of this decision, the following consequences shall apply:
“1. The Respondent shall be banned from registering any new players, either nationally or internationally, up until the due amount is paid. The maximum duration of the ban shall be of up to three entire and consecutive registration periods.
“2. The present matter shall be submitted, upon request, to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee in the event that full payment (including all applicable interest) is still not made by the end of the three entire and consecutive registration periods.
“The consequences shall only be enforced at the request of the Claimant in accordance with art. 24 par. 7 and 8 and art. 25 of the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players.
“This decision is rendered without costs,’’ wrote Emilio Garicia Silvero, the FIFA chief legal and compliance officer.
According to FIFA’s current records, Dynamos owe Paga US$5 000 in
“The Respondent, Dynamos FC, must pay to the Claimant (Paga) the following amount(s): — USD5 000 as outstanding remuneration plus 5 percent interest p.a. as from January 10, 2024, until the date of effective payment;
“USD188 as outstanding remuneration plus 5 percent interest pa as from March 1, 2024, until the date of effective payment’’.
There are 10 more outstanding monthly dues of US188 plus interest which must be paid to Paga.
A further “USD1 188 as outstanding remuneration plus 5 percent interest pa as from December 26, 2024, until the date of effective payment’’ is due to be paid to the speedy forward who was instrumental in helping Dynamos win back-to-back Chibuku Super Cup titles in 2023 and 2024.
It has also emerged that Paga and Botchway had reportedly tried in vain to get Dynamos to settle the outstanding dues before the duo, out of frustration resorted to reporting the matter to FIFA.
Both players have since left DeMbare with Paga now at Manica Diamonds and Botchway at flamboyant Scottland.
Despite being given warning and initial deadlines to pay off the players, Dynamos did not make efforts to settle the debts, resulting in FIFA imposing the sanctions.
And given the current lack of depth at Dynamos, the transfer ban, which will last at least three international windows, will effectively kill off any rescue plans that Chaminuka and the club’s well-wishers may be having of trying to help lure more experienced and talented players during mid-season.
Yadah felt the full impact of such contractual breaches when they were forced to start their 2025 Premiership campaign with just 14 players at their disposal.
Bosso were lucky enough to be rescued by Harare businessman Wicknell Chivayo, who bailed them just in time to allow them to register players before the transfer window had closed.
Chivayo stepped in to help Highlanders by settling their outstanding debt to former coach Baltemar Brito and his assistant Antonio Joao Torres, totalling US$27 000, with the intervention allowing FIFA to give the Bulawayo giants the greenlight register new players who were on coach Kelvin Kaindu’s wish list.
In Botchway’s case, FIFA head of Disputes and Regulatory Applications Erika Montemor Ferreira outlined similar monthly claims to that owed to Paga but added in a decision passed on May 14, that Dynamos also owed the midfielder an additional:
“USD2 100 net as compensation for breach of contract plus 5 percent interest p.a. as from 19 December 2024 until the date of effective payment.’’
Botchway’s outstanding remuneration is also listed as; “— USD5 688 as outstanding remuneration plus 5 percent interest pa as from March 1, 2024, until the date of effective payment’’.
The FIFA penalty on Dynamos will feel like a dagger planted in the heart of the struggling giants who have also been fighting off-field problems related to a fallout between a section of their supporters and the leadership over the manner in which the 1998 CAF Champions League runners-up are being administered.
Peter Tanyanyiwa