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Sports Reporter
THE management at Dynamos claims they were caught by surprise when they learnt that their captain Augustine Mbara has decided to leave his childhood club and join South Africa’s Premiership returnees Highlands Park this week.

DeMbare treasurer Webster Marechera said they were “hurt” that Mbara, a product of their development programme, was going as a free agent as Dynamos did not get a cent for their investment in the player.

Mbara signed a two-year contract with the South Africa club, which is captained by former Warriors goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini.

Marechera yesterday said they had hoped Mbara, who inked a one year deal with the Harare giants last year, would renew his contract after they had engaged him.

Mbara was one of the most loyal players at Dynamos, but he could not let slip the opportunity after DeMbare had failed to offer him a satisfactory deal.

“Of course players come and go, but it hurts to lose someone whom you nurtured and gave the spotlight without getting anything for it.

“That’s the problem we are facing with these players these days because their managers are insisting on one year deals so that they find it easy to sell them to other teams as free agents with the club benefiting nothing.

“The players are told that South African clubs want free agents and because they are desperate to go abroad they oblige. As a club, our policy is that minimum contract should be two years, but in such cases there is nothing much we can do about it.

“We cannot compete with South African clubs because of the different economies. So that is why we are now turning to our juniors who we will give longer contracts,” said Marechera.

“To say we didn’t negotiate with him, it’s not true. We started negotiating with Mbara about contract renewal in February and I think about three weeks ago we then intensified the talks with him.

“We got to somewhere and on Friday he even wanted to go to Bulawayo for the weekend game because he had the contract papers with him.

“But then he remained behind and said he would come back to us. Unfortunately he never came back.”

While Marechera might choose to blame managers, the Dynamos management should also look at themselves in the mirror and critically assess the way they have gone about their business on the player transfer market, which leaves much to be desired.

Dynamos have somehow always ignored the fact that according to FIFA Statutes, a player is free to negotiate with a club of his choice when he has six months left on his contract and by February, when they opened talks with him Mbara was already at liberty to discuss with prospective suitors.

Despite failing to retain Mbara, Dynamos have secured his defensive partner Elisha Muroiwa, who should return for their next home match against Border Strikers at Rufaro this Sunday.

Muroiwa, however, remains on the radar of South African Premiership giants Kaizer Chiefs who have reportedly been keenly following his progress ever since he burst into the Warriors regular side to partner Costa Nhamoinesu in the African Cup of Nations squad.

DeMbare have won their last four games on the trot and will be looking to maintain the momentum. However, their opponents who sit at the bottom of the 16-team table, have said they will be coming to compete.

But Border Strikers believe they could upset the Harare giants.

Border Strikers spokesperson Rodlett Chigwinya said their win over Harare City in the last game should inspire confidence in their team.

“Of course Dynamos are a big team. We are happy to be the underdogs because we have been the whipping boys.

“But I believe our win in the last match should be the turning point that we had wanted this season. So Dynamos should not expect an easy game,” said Chigwinya.