Murape accuses Mbara of betrayal

Langton Nyakwenda
DYNAMOS assistant coach Murape Murape has accused defender Augustine Mbara of betrayal following his move to South African side Highlands Park last week. The 29-year-old Mbara joined the Absa Premiership new boys as a free agent following the lapsing of his DeMbare contract. “What he did was uncaptain like, Dynamos is a big institution and to abandon the team like that was not good,” charged Murape.

Mbara was Dynamos through and through, having been raised in the blue family but the club’s failure to handle his contract wisely has led to a huge fallout between the two parties.

Mbara stopped training with Dynamos immediately after signing for Highlands Park, even though he is yet to join his new club in South Africa.

He was evasive when The Sunday Mail sought his comment.

“Let us talk about it later brother,” Mbara said on Wednesday.

The following day, his mobile phone was answered by a certain lady while his whatsapp status during the week seemed to suggest that something was going on.

“Takazviwanza izvi, handingatarisire kudiwa nemunhu wese handisi mari (I don’t expect to be loved by everyone, I am not money)…Gaucho#29,” read the status.

Mbara’s manager, Gibson Mahachi said there was nothing amiss with the player’s move.

“There is nothing wrong with a player leaving a club as a free agent. The onus was on the club to start negotiating seriously for a contract renewal in the last six months.

“Clubs need to understand that players also need to secure their future. It is good for a player to leave on a transfer because both the club and agent benefit.

“But, if an opportunity arises when a player is free, then we take it,” said Mahachi.

A source within Dynamos claimed that the club only started negotiating with Mbara’s handlers three days before the contract expired.

“It’s unfair to blame the player in such a case because Dynamos had a million chances to renew his contract but chose not to do so.

“This is their way of doing business, they leave it until late just like what they did with Elisha Muroiwa,” said the source.

Although Mbara was not an imposing captain in the mould of the late Francis Shonhayi, Memory Mucherahowa or Murape, his loyalty to the Glamour Boys was unquestionable.

However, Murape seemed to question Mbara’s allegiance.

“It’s a new challenge for him and we wish him well. He has a family to feed and we wouldn’t stand in his way but we are disappointed with the manner he is leaving.

“He was bestowed with the captainship because the club had seen some qualities in him so he needed to respect the club because he was the symbol of Dynamos.

“Negotiations were in progress from long back but Mbara’s camp was dilly dallying, waiting for the midseason window. We trusted him as the captain and we feel hard done,” he said.