MARRIOT BACKS HIS NEW BROOMS

Zimpapers Sports Hub

BERNARD MARRIOT LUSENGO has backed the incoming Dynamos executive to attain a quick turnaround of the ailing Premier Soccer League giants and re-store their competitive edge ahead of what promises to be a closely contested 2026 season in the top-flight.

Dynamos needed to avoid defeat on the final day of the 2025 season to avoid the ignominy of having their fine history with the domestic game, clouded in the embarrassment of relegation from the elite league for the first time since their 1963 formation.

That indifferent season came at a cost for Moses Maunganidze’s executive committee with Marriot wielding the axe on them on Christmas Eve. Yesterday the Dynamos board chairman confirmed the appointments of the new leadership at the club, the bulk of whose names had leaked into the social media spaces.

Unlike with the Maunganidze executive, Marriot has expanded the management that will be led by the returning Vincent Chawonza, who had previously been vice-chairman in his last stint with Dynamos.

Chawonza will be deputised by fellow Harare business executive Spencer Chihota in a largely grouping of Young Turks.

The other members of the executive include secretary-general Devine Sena, marketing and media committee member Desmond Bvute, and Justice Mubayi, who has been retained as treasurer.

David Chikomo has also been retained from the outgoing executive, while Solomon Sanyamandwe bounces back as a committee member along with new member Martin Dahwa. Another business executive Batson Nkoma comes in as the new chief executive officer.  Dynamos had been without a CEO since Jonathan Mashingaidze’s departure from the Harare giants.

After the disappointment 2025 season, Marriot yesterday placed his confidence in Chawonza and his executive to turn around Dynamos and ensure they challenge for honours on both the home front and the continental stage.

“I can confirm that the new executive committee will be led by chairman Vincent Chawonza with Spencer Chihota as the vice-chairman.

“I have no doubt in my mind that this carefully selected team of men of diverse expertise and backgrounds will put in their collective efforts and turn around the fortunes of this big club,’’ Marriot said.

“We disappointed our stakeholders last year and we have sought to take corrective measures.

“As such, I urge all Dynamos stakeholders, and especially our supporters to give both the executive committee and the players all the support they will need as we look to reclaim our place at the top table of Zimbabwean football.

“In fact, Dynamos not only belongs at the top in local football, but we should be rejoining our peers like Al Ahly, Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs, ASEC Mimosas, TP Mazembe and Orlando Pirates who are fellow giants of African football.”

As they look to put their shoulders to the wheel, Chawonza and his crew know that they are in race against time to appoint a new head coach following the departure of Kelvin Kaindu to Premiership newboys Hardrock.

They will also have their work cut out trying to retain some key players and help the incoming coach to lure more talent in an increasingly competitive market that has more clubs with the financial muscle to outbid them.

Unlike in the past when it was every young player’s dream to feature for the traditional giants Dynamos, Highlanders and CAPS United, the emergence of such clubs like Simba Bhora, Scottland, Hardrock, FC Platinum, Ngezi Platinum, TelOne and Chicken Inn, over the years has changed the landscape.

A lot of players now put their welfare ahead of fame and it is against this background that Dynamos would also need to convince players that they can of-fer them the peace of mind with guaranteed remuneration for their industry.

Apart from struggling with relegation, Dynamos battled with recurring player strikes over unpaid salaries and bonuses.

But with some of the newly appointed executive committee members understood to be away on holidays and a maiden indaba still to be convened, it was not immediately clear whether Dynamos will commit to returning to the CAF Confederation Cup.

Dynamos won the ticket to represent Zimbabwe in the Confederation Cup following their Chibuku Super Cup triumph.

After winning the cup in 2024, Dynamos opted out of the 2025 edition of the Confederation Cup due to funding challenges.