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Kenny Mubaiwa

Petros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
DYNAMOS chairman Kenny Mubaiwa has revealed that he snubbed the Castle Lager Premiership awards night as he feared a repeat of the embarrassment he suffered last year when he was denied entry because of a wrong dress code.Mubaiwa was conspicuous by his absence, as was the rest of the Dynamos management, when the Harare giants were officially crowned the 2013 Castle Lager champions at a function where the dress code was strictly jacket and tie.

Vice-captain Tawanda Muparati was named the Soccer Star of the Year, while defender Gift Bello and goalkeeper George Chigova were also honoured for being among the 11 Castle Soccer Stars of the Year.

But it dawned on all those in attendance at the glittering function that there was no Dynamos official when Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Andrew Langa asked the guests to give a standing ovation to the Harare giants for winning their third successive championship title.

Masters of ceremony on the night, Mike Madoda and Barry Manandi, ended up asking former Dynamos captain Desmond Maringwa, who was attending in his capacity as chairman of the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe to stand up on behalf of the club’s leadership.

In contrast, Harare City, who also received special mention from Langa for their exploits this year, had club chairman Leslie Gwindi, Harare mayor Bernard Manyenyeni and club secretary Tarisai Kwenda on hand to congratulate Coach of the Year Bigboy Mawiwi and midfielder Silas Songani who was named the first runner-up to Muparati.

Mubaiwa yesterday said he was not aware that none of his colleagues in the executive had attended the ceremony.

“Personally, I was embarrassed last year over the issue of dressing so I thought it would be better to stay away this year than to go there and be turned away again if those at the door felt I was not properly dressed,” said Mubaiwa.

“It was not a club decision not to go there and it is unfortunate that we were not represented at the function when the Minster acknowledged our achievements.

“We have also been humbled by the recognition we have received from Zifa, Fifa and the Government.

“I believe that recognition is also a challenge on us to set new standards and do far much better in the African Champions League.

“When you get such recognition from all those authorities it shows that there is something good that you are doing, but we need to prove that we are not just good enough for the domestic league and try and go all the way in the Champions League.

“In the last two years we have struggled and we and we cannot afford to fail again next year and that is why we are trying to run around to beef our squad.”

PSL chief executive Kenny Ndebele said it was regrettable that Dynamos were not represented at such a “special function.’’

“Maybe, they were tied up somewhere but we had requested two delegates from each club and yet there was no-one from Dynamos.

“As it turned out, apart from being the champions, they had three of their players being honoured and one of them was actually named the Soccer Star of the Year. “So, without his club officials, it became a family affair for Muparati as he had to turn to his wife when his finest moment came.

“I think in future we will also consider doing another championship trophy presentation at the awards ceremony just like they do in South Africa even though the winning team would have been handed the trophy at the stadium on the final day of the season,’’ Ndebele said.