With
Dynamos Football Club nearing its 50th anniversary, it is a noble
initiative to look at the position DeMbare finds itself in after half a century
of top flight football and the position it could have been in within this time
span history.
Report by Leopold Munhende
Formed
in 1963 by black players who chose to rise above racial discrimination which
they had suffered in other clubs, Dynamos ‘DeMbare’ quickly became a favourite
as highlighted by the fact that it went on clinch the title in its year of
inception, a record it still holds to this day.
2013
marks exactly 50 years from when Obadiah “Wasu”
Sarupinda, Patrick Dzvene (late), Ephraim Mpariwa, Richard Chiminya, Nathan
Maziti, Bernard “Magitare” Marriot, Josiah Akende (late), Allan “Teacher”
Hlatywayo (late), Freddie Mkwesha, Jairos Banda, Danny Bricks, Alois Mesikano,
Sam Dauya (late) and Sydney Matthews started he journey which will lead their predecessors
to Zimbabwean football dominance.
Robson Rundaba, who is now an official at Dynamos was once quoted as
having said;
“When the club was formed it had a good base. Dynamos had its own
brand of football; it was about entertainment and winning, attacking football.”
Dynamos legend and most successful coach, Sunday ‘Marimo’ Chidzambwa
is recognised for strengthening the Defensive culture of the club. This has
seen it having the least goals scored against, over quite some time.
Over
the past 50 years DeMbare has won a record 19 league titles (1963, 1965, 1970, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986,
1989, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2007, 2011 and 2012); winning it four
times in a row from 1980 to 1983. The team has managed to defend its title a
record six times making them the all time kings of Zimbabwean soccer. With countless
league and knockout cups in its cabinet, soccer is short without it being
mentioned. They have groomed and produced legends. They have moulded their
institution into a typical beacon of Zimbabwean success.
DeMbare
has unquestionably proved it mettle within the borders of Zimbabwe but its
major down fall has been its lack of intelligence and depth in the African
jungles over the past years. Dynamos is an African giant which is slowly going
into hibernation even though few might take notice.
What
those holding the reins of the DeMbare family have failed to do is to steer
their ship closer to professional football like has been seen in North, South
and West Africa.
After
50 years Dynamos has no stadium, no bus to compete with African giants and it
still struggles to pay its fares and accommodation whenever it ventures into
the African jungles. DeMbare is slowly falling into the pit of laughing stocks
so many giants have fallen prey to.
Where
it not for BancABC I bet ‘Team Zora-Butter’ would be having problems paying its
troops. Being an ardent fan of Zimbabwean soccer I wonder where all those gate
takings go to. This is what has to be done at DeMbare to make it a formidable
club across Africa.
First
things first, with all due respect to Highlanders Football Club, DeMbare needs
to stop comparing itself to Bosso. Dynamos is an African giant with the highest
number of league titles in the whole of Southern Africa. Its moniker ‘7
million’ has to mean something. They are a brand, better than most in southern
Africa.
Even
if the best two teams in Southern Africa in their respective leagues add up
their titles, they still won’t get to 19.
Its
high time DeMbare takes a North African approach to soccer, that approach has
paid dividends for even teams in Europe (a closer look at Chelsea F.C is a good
example).
Dynamos
has to aim at the CAF Champions League crown and stop squabbling with Bosso, 50
years is a long wait for its legion of followers. Its trophy cabinet is short
of that one trophy yet management is busy hunting for local glory day in day
out, Africa’s biggest club cup is the real deal.
DeMbare
needs to take a European approach to club management.
This
simply means, Dynamos should stop its habit of hiring and firing coaches
willy-nilly like what almost happened to Kallisto Pasuwa. They should let him instil
his football culture over years, let’s say 10 years.
Arsenal
Football Club have gone for seven years without a single cup but they
still hold on to Arsene Wenger for a reason, that is how they have managed
to remain a giant and that is how they have managed to create a type of play
associated with them, that is what lacks at DeMbare.
It’s
also high time DeMbare pays its players allowances and bonuses which are
commensurate with what is expected of them. You cannot expect the crown from
someone you are paying peanuts. It is
about time the powers that be at DeMbare reward players with bonuses which are
competitive enough to ward of predators from South Africa and Zimbabwe’s own F.C
Platinum to be specific.
It
also needs to stop selling players like it’s their main agenda. Dynamos is not
an academy for wealthy clubs, it just has to stop selling its best players.
Look
at Denver Mukamba, Rodrick Mutuma, Takesure Chinyama and Simba Sithole just
from the 2012 season, these players could have brought the Champions league
crown home. This culture has to stop if the dream of a CAF Champions League
Crown is to be made into reality.
Its
high time Dynamos learnt to splash cash around, be extravagant enough to scare
away vultures (buy a state of the art bus, build a stadium, pay highly
competitive sums).
The
funds are there.
DeMbare
having amassed so many nick names over its 50 year history, (DeMbare, DeMbada,
Zora-Butter, Haina Ngozi, Kochekera, Chikopokopo, 7 Million) is still failing
to effectively market its replica jerseys to raise capital; that is a major
setback.
Copy
what is good and disregard that which is not, Dynamos and the rest of
Zimbabwe’s clubs need to take a leaf from the South African league which has
risen to be one of the best in Africa.
What
is lacking at DeMbare is a man with a greater vision, I hope that man is found
quickly enough before Egyptians and South Africans start making fun of the
Zimbabwean soccer giants who never win anything.
A
fish rots from the head down, hence introspection and change has to begin at
the top before those in the lower echelons of the club ranks.
Happy Golden Jubilee Dynamos
‘DeMbare,’ ‘Zora-Butter!’
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