Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze, Zimpapers Sports Hub
AT a time when last-minute Premiership relegation survivors Dynamos should be fully focused on defending their Chibuku Super Cup title, their players have embarked on industrial action over unpaid bonuses.
The players, who put their bodies on the line without payment, are now holding the executive to account. Dynamos are scheduled to play away to Triangle at Gibbo Stadium as they seek to retain the trophy for the third successive time.
However, the squad, protesting over unpaid dues, turned up at Christ Ministries Stadium but refused to train while the technical team waited helplessly on the sidelines.
Speaking to Zimpapers Sport, the players said they will not participate in training for the Chibuku Super Cup final until their demands are met.
“The problem is that they do not even communicate with us, which shows they take us for granted… We sat at the stadium for two hours and none of them showed up to at least talk to us,” said the players. “Without remuneration, we cannot feed our families, and for a professional player, this is unacceptable. We signed contracts, which stipulate that they are obliged to pay us for playing, which is why we are withdrawing our services until they clear our dues.”
The players are owed bonuses for two draws and a win, while some have not received their signing-on fees since the start of the season. For each win, a player should receive US$300, while draws are pegged at US$150 per game — translating to US$600 owed to each player.
Club chair Moses Maunganidze admitted there is turmoil in the blue army camp.
“We are running around, trying to ensure that we address their concerns; we do not blame them in any way for being mad,” he said. “This is a bad time for us to have such issues pop up. We are in the process of ensuring that we solve it amicably. Meetings are happening right now, and we hope something positive comes up because our aim is to defend the Chibuku Cup.”
While FC Platinum and Harare City have won the Chibuku Super Cup twice, no team has lifted the prestigious tournament in succession. If Dynamos win it for the third time in a row, it will set a record that could stand for years.
Their opponents, Triangle, have won the cup once. Triangle coach Genesis Mangombe will be eager to frustrate his former paymasters.
“We are standing at the verge of history, and any coach would want his team to be in the best possible form… We hope they solve the issues in time,” said a member of the technical team.
The last time Dynamos went on industrial action was two days before their Chibuku Super Cup semi-final against Highlanders, which they eventually won 5-3 on penalties at Rufaro.
