Zimpapers Logo

Augustine Hwata Sports Reporter
SOMETHING is just not right within the Dynamos camp and, just days after their lifeless performance in the Champions League against As Vita, the players boycotted their training session at Zimphos Grounds yesterday.
The Glamour Boys failed to utilise home advantage, as they struggled to a goalless draw against AS Vita of the Democratic Republic of Congo, at the National Sports Stadium on Saturday.

DeMbare are scheduled to travel to the Kinshasa on Friday for the reverse fixture, where a scoring draw or an unlikely victory, will provide them with a ticket to the second round and a dream date against Kaizer Chiefs.

The Amakhosi put one foot in the second round when they hammered Liga Muculmana 4-0 in the first leg of their first round tie at the Moses Mabida Stadium in Durban on Saturday night.

Zimbabwe international forwards, Knowledge Musona and Matthew Rusike, were on target for the Soweto giants.

A duel between DeMbare and the Amakhosi will be a box-office ticket seller, on both sides of the Limpopo, and is one match where the Glamour Boys can be guaranteed a full-house at the National Sports Stadium.

But Dynamos have to make up for their poor home performance, against AS Vita on Saturday, and turn on the show on foreign soil, something they haven’t done for some time, for them to go through.

Things, though, are not looking good at the DeMbare front.

The Zimbabwe football kings’ preparations for the match in Kinshasa were disrupted yesterday when the players staged an industrial action.

And, away from the sit-in at Zimphos, Dynamos treasurer Webster Marechera spent the night in police cells after he was picked up over allegations of misappropriation of funds.

Marechera was arrested on Monday and should be appearing in court today.

He is alleged to have underbanked US$14 890 between April and November last year.

The problems at DeMbare have been worsened by a power struggle in the board of directors, which has once again split, with two groups battling for control.

With their treasurer assisting police with investigations behind the bars, the Dynamos executive were not able to pay the players, leading to the sit-in.

The players who spoke to The Herald said their executive had been making empty promises over the outstanding dues and matters reached a boiling point yesterday when they decided to go on strike.

“There is a problem within the team at the moment. The main problem is on the issue of money that the players are still owed,” said the sources.

When The Herald crew arrived at the training grounds yesterday, there was no sign of a training session underway and an aide to the Dynamos technical team tried to bar the media from access into the ground.

The official tried to create a diversion by giving false information that head coach Callisto Pasuwa was away.

However, Pasuwa soon appeared but said he had been instructed not to speak to the media for now.

The sources said the players want to be paid their bonuses from the preliminary round matches of the Champions League ties against Mochudi Centre Chiefs of Botswana.

“Players are owed money from the games against Mochudi. There have not been paid over both legs,” said the source.

Dynamos beat Mochudi Centre Chiefs 3-1 at the National Sports Stadium.

“Some bonuses from the Mbada Diamonds Cup have not been paid in full,” said the sources.

Dynamos were knocked out in the Mbada Diamonds Cup in the quarter-finals while they defied the odds to win the league championship on the final day last year.

“Money from the league championship was paid and that matter is settled but there is something from the last match of the season against Black Mambas.

“The players were paid just half the amount,” said the sources.

The players were demanding to see the executive yesterday and iron out the differences ahead of their trip to the DRC.

Dynamos’ principal sponsors BancABC have indicated that they are not able to fund the African Safari, although they remain committed to supporting the club in the domestic competition.

“Morale among us the players is low at the moment. Today (yesterday) we had expected the executive to address us but noone came and that’s why we could not train.

“Maybe the team is not performing well because of low motivation.

“I am not sure if we will train tomorrow but the sticking issue now is the money from the Mochudi games. There are also some players who have not been paid their signing-on fees,” said one of the players.

Part of their office furniture is set to go under the hummer on Tuesday after it was attached by the Deputy Sheriff on the orders of Motor Action.

Motor Action are seeking US$ 8 000 which they claim is outstanding over William Kupera’s deal.

Dynamos secretary Webster Chikengezha could not be reached for comment, as he was said to be ill, while team manager Richard Chihoro professed his ignorance over the strike.

“I have no idea what is happening because I never attended the training sessions today. I haven’t even spoken to the head coach today as I was busy with the logistics for travelling to the Democratic Republic Congo,” said Chihoro.