Dynamos blew their chance

By Farayi Machamire

HARARE – If by some extraordinary turn of events, Dynamos go on to snatch the Castle Premier Soccer League title from the jaws of defeat, it would be a sad indictment on the rest of the teams.

The Glamour Boys have stuttered for the better part of the season, failing to rise to expected heights and lacking the decisiveness of champions.

They have shot themselves in the foot every time they have been in a position to run away with the league.

Week 26 was a classic example when Dynamos were tested and failed.

At that stage they were leading the table on 49 points, two ahead of ZPC Kariba.

The defending champions had a seemingly a routine home match against Premiership debutants Chapungu while title rivals ZPC had a tough tie against FC Platinum at Mandava Stadium.

As expected the platinum miners handed ZPC a 2-0 defeat and all Dynamos had to do was to dismiss Chapungu at home and go five points clear oat the top.

But Calisto Pasuwa’s men failed dismally as they had to come from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw with Air Force of Zimbabwe side to give ZPC a life-line in the process.

On Week 28, Dynamos again dropped crucial points when they were held 0-0 by relegated Bantu Rovers at Rufaro.

Rovers virtually had little to play for but pride in that match but it seems complacency was DeMbare’s major weakness in that game.

The draw meant Dynamos now only had a one point advantage over ZPC going into the penultimate match against the Kariba-based side.

Once again, DeMbare’s shortcomings were exposed in that encounter as they went on to lose 2-1 to the league novices to surrender pole position on the log.

So, now for the third time in as many years DeMbare again find themselves at the mercy of results elsewhere going their way on Sunday to win the championship.

It has worked for them in the past.

However, in the last three previous title run-ins Dynamos’ title rivals have not been able to beat them back to back as in the case with ZPC Kariba this season.

Disappointingly, traditional powerhouses CAPS United and Highlanders have been haunted by their own financial problems as they self-implored in their bid to knock off DeMbare of their perch.

This has meant that despite all their shortcomings and faltering Dynamos have been able to maintain a place amongst the leading pack throughout the season.

Outside the field of play, the Zimbabwe champions have been a house crumbling from within.

The welfare of players is still as dire as it was when the season begun.

The league is one game to its conclusion but players are still owed winning bonuses stretching over seven games yet the clubs faithful expect the same players to deliver a fourth straight title.

The winning bonuses of last season’s match that saw Dynamos beat Black Mambas to be crowned 2013 champions are still outstanding and there is no sign of that changing.

Players thought they had found financial solace after reaching the finals NetOne Supr8r Cup to earn $50 000 runners up cheque but the dividends of that prize money are still to be realised.

It thus comes as no surprise that with such uninspiring motivation players have begun counting down their contract days with great expectation.

It is pity victimisation is prevalent and you will not get players opening up to inform the public about their struggles.

The current environment is one in which players are forced to write letters of apology when all they have done wrong is go on strike as a last resort to clamour for what is owed to them.

It is even more disturbing that it is the same players who get injured and are left to buy their own medication who are expected to carry the hopes and dreams of the widely supported club.

Be that as it may, Dynamos face their moment on truth this Sunday knowing mathematically they can still win a fourth straight league title.

Fortunately for them, football is a game of unpredictability.

And if Dynamos go on to ride the wave of such a chaotic season; fans should begrudgingly admit that holding a party will be tantamount to celebrating mediocrity. Daily News