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, believes the Glamour Boys have terribly lost their way and badly need to find the indomitable spirit that made them such a special football team.
The left-winger, who arrived at DeMbare in 1991 from Darryn T and consolidated his place as one of the finest wingers to grace the domestic Premiership, believes Dynamos have not been the same since the turn of the millennium.
Now a purchasing officer at a Harare firm, Munyorovi revealed yesterday that he could barely watch how his favourite team has been turned into a side so ordinary it has won just one league championship in the last 14 years.
During his spell at Dynamos, the club won three league titles in four years in 1994, 1995 and 1997.
Munyorovi believes DeMbare are suffering from an identity crisis, with too many average players being lured from elsewhere, who do not understand the spirit that turned this club into a giant.
While Munyorovi arrived at Dynamos as an esta-blished player, he said the squad was dominated by those who had been developed from the youth sys-tem and it was easy to learn and understand the culture at the club.
Now, he says, that is all gone down the drain.
“The current crop of players lacks the drive, especially, those at Dynamos and there is no longer that fighting spirit,” said Munyorovi.
Munyorovi joined the Glamour Boys from Da-rryn T in 1991 and became a big hit.
But, as the capital prepares for the 67th edition of the Harare Derby at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday, Munyorovi believes the current crop of players has failed to come to the party.
Dynamos are struggling to make an impact in the race for the Castle Lager Premiership, as the mara-thon reaches the halfway mark, despite a pre-season that promised greatness. The Glamour Boys also bowed out of the African Champions League in the first round.
Their rivals CAPS United have also blown hot and cold this season despite touching the heavens on the occasions they have destroyed their opponents.
After 13 games, CAPS United are in fifth place on the table, five points behind leaders Motor Action on 26 points. But that is certainly not a huge gap, considering that there are 51 points still left to play for.
Dynamos are in sixth place and two points behind CAPS United.
What has made this clash interesting is that Dynamos could go above CAPS United, for the first time this season, should they win on Sunday.
A loss could be unbearable at the Glamour Boys.
But the same is also true about CAPS United with a loss certain to spark accusations that coach Moses Chunga aided his old club.
“I played for Dynamos for seven years and duri-ng that time I was initiated into the culture at the club,” said Munyorovi.
“When I joined Dynamos, from DT, I found out that the environment was completely different but I got to know what was expected when one plays for Dynamos.”
Known as Sugar, to the legion of the Dynamos fans, Munyorovi also had stints at Arcadia United, Black Aces and Chapungu.
“I think there is need to give the current players a lecture on what is expected of them. When I was at Dynamos, I remember players like Desmond Mari-ngwa were still coming up from the juniors and I think he is one
who still knows what is expected,” said Munyorovi.
Munyorovi believes most of the players in the Premiership have lost their passion for the game.
“I see that most of these guys do not have the enthusiasm for the game. It’s just no longer there. Surely how can you expect more from the players who have to control the ball more than three times before making a pass?
“The level of football has just gone down and we should not expect too much from Lloyd Mutasa. We can change the coach again, but the same culture will remain, ” said Munyorovi.
He said the biggest let down at Dynamos, and the whole Premiership, has been the lack of proper structures for junior development.
“I went to Chengu Primary in Highfield and later did my secondary at Mukai High.
“During our time, we had vibrant junior teams and I knew most of the players from my generation. I knew Clayton Munemo, Emanuel Nyahuma, Arthur Tutani, Stanley Chirambadare and later Dynamos had players like Hope Chihota, Chamu Musanhu and even Tichaona Diya who is still at Dynamos came up through the junior structures at Dynamos. They had the spirit and culture of Dynamos that is now lacking from the current players,” said Munyorovi.
He said scouts from established teams used to follow up on juniors and recruit them for clubs.
“I remember Benjamin Mpofu doing that,” he said.
“Now there is no junior policy and that identity with the teams is lacking.
“A player at a club like Manchester United can start with the Under-12, then Under-14 and go to the Under-16 and 18 before going into the first team. All along the channel, players will get to know the culture of the team and will grow up with the spirit that is needed.
“But I feel that the spirit is now lacking at Dynamos because players are brought from different clubs across the country.
“There are no players who are produced through the production line to replace those who are ageing or injured,” he said.
Munyorovi said some players at Dynamos have been plucked from small teams and have buckled under a lot of expectations.
“Some of the players came from say Masvingo and to them they were used to losing some games. Now they came to Dynamos and lose a game to one of the small teams but it’s still normal for them to lose a game.
It was difficult during our time to easily lose a game because we had the spirit. During our time, it was normal to trail 1-0 but then score three goals in the last 10 minutes to win the game because we had the spirit,” said Munyorovi.
Now a proud owner of a house and living in the comfort of a decent job, Munyorovi says Dynamos are paying a big price for the shambolic structures at the club.
“I would rather go to church and later watch television from home than try watch a game at the stadium,” said Munyorovi.
Online Reporter