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Tadious Manyepo, Sports Reporter
DYNAMOS board chairman Bernard Marriot has been under fire, largely blamed for DeMbare’s struggle to assert itself.
On Sunday the Dynamos founding father was at Rufaro and saw his side put on another lacklustre show in their 0-0 draw against Bikita Minerals.
After the match, Marriot engaged some disgruntled supporters who are not happy with the team’s performances and those who had been agitated by coach Genesis Mangombe’s decision to haul off winger Valentine Kadonzvo after 37 minutes.
The Dynamos board chairman pleaded with the supporters to be a stride more patient with Mangombe, despite the former Yadah Stars coach leading them on a poor run that has seen them trail log leaders FC Platinum by 13 points after 21 matches.
Yesterday he made a follow-up indaba with the supporters’ leadership at the Dynamos training ground.
“Dynamos is a prestigious institution. The business of the club is managed in terms of the company articles.
“Its affairs are of public interest and legitimate subject of discussion, review, and debate by rank and file,” Marriot said.
He insisted that he had an open door policy, although some of the Dynamos followers had shied away from discussing with him.
“People are free to talk to me because I don’t want to be a board chairman who is not in touch with the club’s major stakeholders, who are the supporters,” said Marriot.
“I have weathered storms that I have faced at Dynamos. We are making efforts to bring back our pride as a club.
“All I am saying is that without our passionate fans, we can’t have an institution which is as big as we have, as Dynamos Football Club. These are our major stakeholders and we take our hats off for them. So, on Sunday I decided to give them an ear and we talked at length.
“We also visited the training ground yesterday where we also discussed important issues to do with the club.
“I was pleased to see fans coming to me and talking about the team and issues around it. I am very pleased because it’s always good to be talking to them regularly.
“In fact, as a leader I have to keep in touch with everyone, I do not want to have a problem of not knowing whether the fans and supporters are following you or chasing you,” Marriot said.
He is aware of the fact that if DeMbare fails to win the league this season, it will be the first time that the 61-year-old club would have gone for over a decade without winning the league championship.
Marriot also expressed concern with a decrease in attendance figures at the Dynamos home matches largely because of the results but remained hopeful they could at some stage of the season turn the corner.
“Although I am the board chairman, when I am at a match I am like any supporter or any other fan, I don’t know what the coaches would be thinking or deciding . . . it is their call to make.
“All I am saying is that we should be patient with the coach. He has won us the Chibuku and Independence trophies.
“Every team goes through bad patches”.
“I feel the coach should be given some more time. We can still win the title mathematically although that will need us to put in extra work.
“We are also preparing for the CAF Confederation Cup which is coming in August.
“So, we are saying let’s give Mangombe the chance to lead the team in the African Safari,” Marriot said.
DeMbare have since appointed banker Justice Mubayi as the acting treasurer after relieving Musa Gwasira of his duties last week.
Online Reporter