Marriot wants to see DeMbare glamour

Tadious Manyepo, Zimpapers Sports Hub

STRAIGHT from scoring a huge legal victory in which he was acquitted for fraudulently allotting himself a 51 percent shareholding at Dynamos, board chairman Bernard Marriot is eager to see more glamour under his wings.

The Glamour Boys’ only surviving founder member had been living under a court challenge for the past three years but he is now a free man after being cleared by magistrate Yeukai Dzuda last Friday.

The seasoned administrator on Saturday visited the DeMbare training ground in Belvedere to have an appreciation of the squad being put together by coach Lloyd “Mablanyo” Chigowe following a mass departure of players from last season’s ensemble.

And he feels the renowned youth development gaffer, who was rewarded with a substantive contract last month, has been a busy man over the past three weeks.

Dynamos have lost their core and Chigowe has been the one battling to patch up the holes with some of his options drawing a lot of criticism as they barely match the ones they are replacing at least in status.

The Glamour Boys will represent the country in the Caf Confederation Cup for the second successive time this year after winning the Chibuku Super Cup last season.

But almost 50 percent of the players who did duty for them last year including Frank Makarati, Frederick Ansah-Botchwa, Sadney Urikhob, Tanaka Shandirwa, Emmanuel Ziocha, Donald Mudadi and Kevin Moyo among others have since left.

Chigowe has been on an audacious rebuilding exercise in which he has brought in former Los Angeles Galaxy striker Farai Mutatu, ex-Yadah captain Clive Mandivei, Tellmore Pio and Learnmore Muyambo among others.

And the lanky mentor has the blessings of Marriot who has expressed optimism about Dynamos’ prospects in the upcoming season.

“As the board, we don’t interfere with the manner the executive and technical guys go about their work. But it is always incumbent upon us to also get an appreciation of what happens in the field of play because that is the foundation at which the team comes up.

“That is the reason why I took it upon myself to visit our training ground on Saturday just to see how everything is unfolding in the team,” said Marriot.

“I would like to give the coach my full blessings. I know Chigowe is up to something special this coming season. He has been given the leeway to explore and rebuild the team in the manner he likes to see things unfold.

“I am quite confident that he is taking on board players who can fit into his rich playing philosophy. If you look at it, Chigowe managed to win the Chibuku Super Cup last year with a team that was there with previous coaches.

“It just goes on to show just how good he is as a coach. Now, he has the freedom to explore everything according to his own liking and there is no reason why we should not believe in him.

“Let me also thank our sponsors Sakunda Holdings led by Kudakwashe Tagwirei. This man has King Solomon’s wisdom and is endowed with rare compassion.”

Pastor Blessing Nhahuma of the Seventh Day Adventist Church summed it up by preaching on Genesis 41:38 about Tagwirei.

“We are looking forward to a fruitful season and as the board, we have our weight fully behind our coach Lloyd Chigowe, an individual we have known for decades whose capabilities are well beyond any doubt,” he said.

Marriot said the club is yet to replace outgoing chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze but would always benefit from the latter’s consultancy.

“There is no doubting Mashingaidze’s knowledge of the local football terrain,” he said.

“I met with him during the Zifa elections last week and we had a positive chat. He knows my position regarding him.

“In that same vein, let me congratulate those who were voted into the Zifa executive led by president Nqobile Magwizi and two deputies Loveness Mukura and Kenny Ndebele.

“We have so much confidence in their abilities and we know, with unity our football will go far with the elected board leading the way.”

Marriot, who is one of the founding fathers of the modern Premier Soccer League, also offered his support to acting PSL CEO Rodwell Thabe.

Thabe assumed office upon the resignation of Ndebele who was to take part in the Zifa elections upon which he eventually succeeded in his vice-presidential bid.

Thabe has garnered enough experience to steer the ship and he is widely regarded as one of the brightest prospects in football leadership in this country.

“I think Thabe needs all our support as football stakeholders. I would like to congratulate him on his new appointment, however on an interim basis. I know he is capable and able,” added Marriot.

“He should know that he has our full support and be able to deliver his mandate without any pressure whatsoever.”