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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
DeMbare@60 Anniversary Celebrations Organising Committee chairman Denford Mutashu has promised to make the commemorations a spectacle that will change the landscape for domestic football forever.
A number of activities have been lined up by Dynamos as part of their commemorations to mark the club’s 60 years of existence in 2023. Dynamos will also use the milestone to reflect on the trail of successes scored along the way.
Dynamos, who were formed in 1963, are looking to use the milestone as a springboard to bounce back as the leading club in the country.
The Harare giants yesterday unveiled a strong 26-member committee that will oversee the historic anniversary celebrations.
In his acceptance speech, chairman of the committee, Harare businessman Mutashu, said his committee aims to deliver a world class series of events culminating in a glamorous end-of-year awards and establishment of a Hall of Fame.
“It is more than an honour to be appointed into the 60th anniversary celebrations committee that will oversee the historic anniversary celebrations from day one all the way to the final day when the curtain will come down, on awards night in 2023. The glitzy awards night shall be a night to remember in the annals of sports in Zimbabwe,” said Mutashu.
His committee comprises men and women of integrity who have made it in industry, business, sports administration. Some of the luminaries in this committee include Marketing guru Spencer Manguwa, Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce CEO Chris Mugaga, Colbert Chimedza of 4May, Air Zimbabwe CEO Tafadzwa Zaza, Godfrey Koti of Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, marketing guru Chris Ruwanza, Albert Mavunga of Next Level Media Group, businesswomen Wanisai Mutandwa and Sekai Peters, Ray Mutadza and events executive Farai Zwizwai.
Ex-Dynamos player Edward Sadomba, former ZIFA board member Mavis Gumbo, Agrippa Sora who is the headmaster at Prince Edward School, Simba Gochera of the Sports and Recreation Commission and Dynamos national supporters’ chairman Benjamin Muzira are also part of the committee.
Former ZIFA chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze is the General Manager.
The Glamour Boys, who are the country’s most popular and successful club, paid dearly for the deficiencies in planning in 2013 when the Golden Jubilee passed without the glitz which should be associated with such a milestone.
Mutashu, however, said they aim to raise the bar, come 2023. He said the committee will hit the ground running as soon as possible.
“May I, on behalf of the Dembare@60 Anniversary Celebrations Committee, assure you that we have all what it takes to make the celebrations special and we shall hit the ground running by rolling out the anniversary celebrations critical path.
“We will be meeting this week, as a committee to craft our first 100-day plan, which plan shall spell out the strategic benchmarks of our assignment.”
Dynamos were formed in 1963, after a group of black players from erstwhile topflight teams Salisbury United and Salisbury City came together to challenge the racial discrimination they had experienced during the colonial era.
The club owe a lot to their founding fathers who included the late Obadiah “Wasu” Sarupinda, Patrick “Amato” Dzvene, Ephraim Mpariwa, Richard Chiminya, Nathan Maziti, Josiah Akende, Jairos Banda, Danny Bricks, Alois Mesikano, Sam Dauya and Bernard Marriot.
Marriot is the current board chairman while most of the founders are now late.
Over the years, DeMbare have won a record 21 league titles, and several other local trophies.
They have also been the country’s flag bearers on the continent. The Glamour Boys have a CAF Champions League silver medal, from the 1998 final, which they lost in controversial circumstances to Cote d’Ivoire side, Asec Mimosas.
Dynamos also produced arguably the greatest ever player to have graced Zimbabwean football stadiums in the form of George Shaya, a five-time Soccer Star of the Year award winner.
But silverware has eluded them in the last eight years. Mutashu said the celebrations should give the club new impetus both on the field and as a business entity.
“The celebrations, in our view, should help in redefining the Dynamos Football Club DNA, as we believe that at 60, the most decorated club in Zimbabwe should unlock the business potential which has been accumulating since 1963.
“Beyond the 60th year mark, Dynamos Football Club should enjoy its mega business share in the football industry, leading the way as the flagship team in monetising the numerous commercial properties and general good will.
“Football is big business and there is no stronger vehicle than the anniversary celebrations that the most followed and supported club in Zimbabwe shall use to grow its business profile.
“The celebrations will see the club take its products and services to every corner of the family of football in Zimbabwe and in the diaspora.
“The organising committee which you have presented has men and women with the requisite experience and expertise to make the anniversary celebrations a unique business case for football, in particular, and sports, in general. The activations we shall unleash shall change the sports landscape.
“Suffice it to note that the club last celebrated its rich history in 2013 when it turned 50 years.
“The 60th anniversary celebrations shall be the mother of all celebrations and our committee shall ensure that the celebrations reverberate beyond Zimbabwe, making them global in terms of pomp and fanfare,” said Mutashu.
The 60th anniversary celebrations program is expected to be officially launched later this month.
“We are now seized with the launch function for the celebrations, any time before year end and our committee commits to put together a colourful launch function which shall be the launch pad for the historic anniversary celebrations .
“Celebrations of this nature shall not come cheap in terms of resources and our committee shall mobilise financial and material resources, which resources shall be accounted for in order for us to retain the confidence of the benefactors, service partners and sponsors.
“The residue from resources mobilised for the anniversary celebrations should help service its operational needs, youth academy, women football, development team and the senior team’s championship projects,” said Mutashu.
Dembare@60 Anniversary Celebrations Organising Committee:
Denford Mutashu (Chairman), Mavis Gumbo, Sekai Peters, Farai Zwizwai, Wanisai Mutandwa, Agrippa Sora, Tafadzwa Zaza, Godfrey Koti, Alois Burutsa, Chris Mugaga, Ray Mutadza, Chris Chimumvuri, Edward Sadomba, Colbert Chimedza, Ranga Mavhunga, Benjamin Munzira, Patrick Fakero, Simba Gochera, Charles Mukaronda, Sheunopa Ruwanza, Spencer Manguwa, Stanslus Nyachowe, Albert Mavunga
Technical Team – Jonathan Mashingaidze (General Manager), Pascal Kwaramba and Shepherd Mutsau
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