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Ishemunyoro Chingwere
LINCOLN MUTASA’S name has been thrown around the Dynamos circles as the club hunts for a new president to replace the want away Kenny Mubaiwa. There is a DeMbare faction that believes their chairman from 1983-1987 is the man who can bring glamour back to the touted Glamour Boys.Dynamos enjoyed their best commercial success under Mutasa as they managed to buy a stand for the construction of a stadium in Waterfalls and also opened a sports shop in Harare. However, Mutasa was booted out amid chaotic scenes, the prime land in Waterfalls was sold and the shop went bust. Such has been the focus in the Dynamos boardroom.
This afternoon’s Premier Soccer League clash with Mutare City at Rufaro has taken a back seat. Board chairman Bernard Marriot is reported to be making frantic efforts to mend bridges with Mubaiwa but the Harare businessman is playing hardball.
Amid the boardroom drama, Mutasa has some bad news for those pushing for his return to club administration.
“Club administration requires time (and) commitment with day to day involvement . . . I believe I did this during my tenure . . . I do not see myself adding a new vision at this juncture,” said Mutasa as he spoke for the first time on reports linking him to a DeMbare return.
The former Dynamos chairman feels the club needs to invest in its sons.
“I believe for the club to transform, it needs an enabling environment which nurtures younger former players into club administration roles. “It also needs an enabling environment externally through policy interventions at Zifa and higher level.
“This is why I availed myself to run for Zifa office at the last elections where I came second out of two,” said the former Dynamos defender who contested for the Zifa vice presidency and lost to Omega Sibanda last year.
Mutasa said the current leadership should be commended for keeping the club running.
“During our time, buying club properties was only possible because the club generated revenue to reward the players and take care of other needs. “Today some non value adding entities have managed to get their hands in the coffers such that the current administration plots all sorts of machinations just to keep afloat. “I do not envy them. They do a very good and thankless job under an extremely harsh environment.”
Mutasa said the money that councils deduct from gate takings does not correspond with how the stadiums are maintained.
“The Premier Soccer League (PSL) administers the league and charge for the services. At set up this was necessary but with the growth of the brand and TV sponsorship, they could also look at reducing.
“Zifa . . . receive grants from Fifa, run various coaching and referee courses for a fee. They should attract sponsorship to lessen the burden on clubs as well as grow the national teams brand to increase their own revenue streams,” he said.
Today’s fixtures
Border Strikers vs Triangle (Dulivhadzimo),
How Mine vs Chicken Inn (Luveve),
Bulawayo City vs ZPC Kariba (Barbourfields),
Dynamos vs Mutare City Rovers (Rufaro)
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter