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FORMER Dynamos FC coach Herbert Maruwa was not fired for poor results but faces a litany of charges amid allegations that he had lost his dressing room too.
But when contacted yesterday the man called “Jompano” by his adoring army of fans laughed off the allegations.
In an interview in Bulawayo yesterday, DeMbare vice-chairman Vincent Chawonza said mutual separation had been suggested to protect Maruwa’s dignity and integrity in the game but that failed.
Following the coach’s refusal to part ways in an amicable way, Dynamos were left with no option but to suspend him.
“The coach has been suspended and he will be served with a charge sheet before being taken for a disciplinary hearing soon. Initially we had agreed that let’s have a private mutual separation so that we do not wash our dirty linen in public but it seems that did not go well. We had to retract that because we can’t force him to mutually separate ways and now we have suspended him without pay and benefits pending a disciplinary hearing,” said Chawonza.
He said the charges against Maruwa will now be made public which the club was against as it wanted to protect his image.
It is believed that Dynamos, until the coming in of the new executive, were paying US$1 500 per match through the coaches to the magic man but results remained elusive.
Maruwa is therefore being charged for believing in “juju” and making fellow coaches pay for the services of the magic man. Chawonza said other technical team members had complained against such conduct.
Some players such as Allan Jalai, Mudadi, Arthur Musiiwa, Tymon Mvula, Elli Lunga, Nyasha Chintuli, Isaac Sadiki and Keith Madera who are either Moslem or Christian did not subscribe to the use of juju.
These players were as a result sidelined from the team and that had caused massive divisions in the camp contributing to inconsistencies in the team’s performance.
The situation of “juju” according to Chawonza was so bad that the magic man had a say on the final 18.
He said the club did not subscribe to the use of juju hence they were having problems with Maruwa.
“Strong belief in juju saw him losing his dressing room control as some players refused to stuff ‘things’ into their shorts or stockings,” said Chawonza.
Chawonza said the other two members of the technical team will also be hauled to a disciplinary hearing for gross misconduct.
He said Murape Murape came close to blows with striker Tinashe Makanda in church.
“There are allegations that one of them was coming with ‘mbanje’ to the camp which is against Dynamos’ stance on drug and substance abuse,” said Chawonza.
Maruwa, when asked for his comment on the litany of allegations said: “kikiki zvekupenga izvo (That is madness). Where did they get that? They have no case. How do they suspend someone they fired?”
He accused the club executive and management of being against him because they were not happy following his refusal to use their prescribed “muti.”
“Varikutondivengera kuti ndakaramba zvemushonga wavo ini. They hate me because I refused to use their ‘juju’. Who is so crazy? Leave them like that, God will judge them. They act like small children and they are exposing themselves,” said Maruwa.
Dynamos started life after Maruwa with a 1-0 Chibuku Super Cup first round win over Simba Bhora under Genesis Mangombe. It was a promising display and there appeared to be tactical improvements in the performance.
Dynamos’ next game is a league match against Sheasham which will be new coach Mangombe’s first league match.
The Dynamos family and fans call him Kaka because he believes in tika tika football and Bulawayo fans on Saturday watched a bit of a ball passing Dynamos at Barbourfields Stadium.
Online Reporter