adminDeMbare reached the final of the Champions League in 1998 under iconic coach Sunday “Mhofu” Chidzambwa while, after the turn of the millenium, the Dynamos Class of 2008, under David “Yogi” Mandigora, reached the semi-finals of the tournament.
In the previous year, they had reached the group stages of the competition and the team, which had retained all its players such as Edward Sadomba, Benjamin Marere and Justice Majabvi, went on to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.
And in 2010, under the guidance of Elvis Chiweshe, the team also managed to reach the group stages of the tournament.
Since then it has been a different tale for the Glamour Boys and in the past three editions their fortunes in the continental tournament took a big knock with the team losing in the first round.
Dynamos’ poor perfomance have seen them this year losing their status as a seeded team among other teams such as Al Ahly of Egypt and Tunisian giants Esperance.
The country has also lost two berths in the Champions League which had been accorded to the local league following DeMbare impressive record in Africa.
Speaking after DeMbare bowed out again to CA Bizertin of Tunisia at Rufaro yesterday, Mubaiwa said even if they win the Castle Lager Premiership title again this season, they will not participate in the African Safari for at least another season.
“It is the third time we have failed to reach the mini league phase and bowing out at the first round, so this time around if we win the league title, we will not participate but would rather wait and go when we are ripe with a strong squad, maybe in 2015, if we would have managed to win the league again and a ticket to play in Africa,” said Mubaiwa.
The chairman said they first have to work on curbing the mass exodus of their best players to better paying leagues by renumerating them well and keep a winning a team for more than a season.
At the start of the year, Dynamos lost Denver Mukamba, Simba Sithole and Roderick Mutuma to the Absa Premiership leaving them severely weakened.
“We want to and we have to raise funds so that our players do not get taken by South African clubs because the only issue is about money.
“If we manage to do that it means we would be able to keep a team together for a longer time than the present situation where at the end of each season we are losing our best players,” said Mubaiwa.
Turning to the domestic league, Mubaiwa, said they were shifting their focus and were confident of sweeping every trophy on offer, especially the championship and the Mbada Diamonds Cup.
He said it was still too early to judge the coach and gave Pasuwa his support to succesfully launch his league defence in the historic year when the club would be commemorating their Golden Jubilee.
“Now we want to start winning matches as all our players are eligible to play in the domestic league and they can easily plan with all the players at his disposal.
“If we had started to win our opening matches, we were bound to drop the points along the way, as the championship is a long race and a team can lose matches.
“But it is good that we have started with draws and will start to win rather than start by winning and then drop points later in the race.
“So the fans should get used to such scenarios and l feel it is really too early to judge our coach. He is trying hard to work with all the players that have been assembled and cannot really complain about his perfomance.
“We have good players that can do well this season and any Cup that would be on offer we want to win it and make sure Mbada Cup remains with us with no other club taking it away from us.
“So, the future looks bright and there is no need to panic or raise alarm,” said Mubaiwa.
Online Reporter