daniel chigunwe
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
DYNAMOS’ four-time title winning coach Kalisto Pasuwa fears the Harare giants could undo their rich history if they get relegated this season and is pleading with the club’s leadership to find ways to save the sinking ship.
The Glamour Boys continued on their downward spiral on Sunday when they capitulated to their heaviest defeat this season, a 0-3 drubbing by Chicken Inn at Barbourfields. Trapped second from bottom of the table with 23 games played, Dynamos are one of the strong relegation candidates.
Pasuwa, who apart from winning league titles as a player also made history for the club by winning a milestone four league titles on a row between 2011 and 2014, fears the Glamour Boys could be history if the club’s leadership does not make conscious efforts turn the club’s fortunes around.
“I am pleading with the people at Dynamos. Of course, they are a big club but a club can only maintain that stature depending on how the people in charge are handling it.
“It cannot remain big just because of the name Dynamos. Dynamos used to be a big force in Southern Africa. Even the likes of TP Mazembe and Mamelodi Sundowns were at some point below the stature of Dynamos.
“But now when people talk about football in Southern Africa, they talk of Sundowns, and no mention Dynamos which means there are some things that we are doing wrong which need to be mended,” said Pasuwa.
“Dynamos used to be the face of Zimbabwean football in Southern Africa. But right now we have new teams coming up, the likes of Scotland and MWOS, who are overshadowing Dynamos.
“These are clubs owned by people who most probably used to support Dynamos, but these people are passionate about the game and want to show the way in developing football in this country.
“I hope the (DeMbare) leadership hears this message and they do their best to make the club great again. Supporters are not having peaceful sleep at night and even some of us are getting disturbed about where this club is going. Hopefully, everything will be well,” said Pasuwa.
Pasuwa is one of the many coaches that were unceremoniously kicked out of the club despite their achievements. He is the last coach to win the league championship with DeMbare in 2014.
The club has been in decline in the last decade, saddled by fierce ownership wrangles and court battles. Currently DeMbare are under the control of Bernard Marriot.
DeMbare have not won in their last six games since the second half of the campaign began and have suspended coach Saul Chaminuka. They were under the watch of assistant coach Philemon Mutyakureva when they capitulated in Bulawayo, with former Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu tipped to take over the reins ahead of their next match against MWOS at Rufaro.
DeMbare have managed a paltry 16 points from 23 starts and they occupy 17th place on the log standings, eight points away from safety. History has shown that for any team to survive the chop they need at least 40 points, which means DeMbare now need 24 points from the remaining 11 games. This looks impossible considering their poor form this season.
The poor run has been exacerbated by lack of quality in their ranks. They have only six goals to show for their industry and have fared worse than the bottom-placed team, Kwekwe United, who have scored nine goals. Kaindu has been bold to accept this seemingly insurmountable task.
Last week, Dynamos sons Tonderai Ndiraya and legendary skipper Memory Mucherahowa expressed their fears about the impending relegation, while another former captain Murape Murape has been on a crusade against the way the club is being run.
Fixture:
Saturday: TelOne v Manica Diamonds (Ascot), Simba Bhora v Chicken Inn (Wadzanayi), Dynamos v MWOS (Rufaro), ZPC Kariba v GreenFuel (Nyamhunga), FC Platinum v Scottland (Mandava), Yadah v Triangle (Heart Stadium).
Sunday: Herentals v Kwekwe Utd (Rufaro), Bikita Minerals v CAPS United (Gibbo), Highlanders v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Barbourfields).
Online Reporter