By Robson Sharuko
THE entire Dynamos executive has been booted out amid reports that the country’s biggest football club – which has been hit by several lawsuits from former players claiming their unpaid dues – is being choked by a staggering US$500 000 debt.
A proposed friendly international between Dynamos and South African champions Orlando Pirates, set for the Rand Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday to raise awareness about the virtues of fighting xenophobia, now hangs in the balance.
The Dynamos board of directors claimed last night that they were not aware of the special match, which was being organised by the sacked leadership, where the Glamour Boys were set to be paid an appearance fee of R90 000, with the game being supported by the City of Johannesburg.
DeMbare directors, who met in Harare on Saturday, overwhelmingly voted to dissolve the club’s leadership led by Harare business executive Farai Munetsi and a media conference is set to be held in the capital either today or to-morrow to announce the changes.
The Herald, though, can reveal today that Munetsi, who has been the Dynamos chairman since last year, vice-chairman Kenny Mubaiwa, secretary-general Simon Sachiti, treasurer Harrison Mbewe and committee members, Nyika Chifamba and Harare businessman, J. Kanokanga, were all swept away by the tide.
Although board chairman Richard Chiminya, who has remained supportive of Munetsi, was last night resisting the changes and trying to limit the damage, correspondence from his board to Zifa, PSL and their principal sponsors BancABC, confirmed the dramatic developments at the turbulent club.
Sources at Zifa and the PSL yesterday confirmed re-ceiving official correspondence from the Dynamos board of directors advising them of changes that had been effected in the club’s leadership.
Munetsi’s letter, which was sent to his workplace at Nestle Zimbabwe, and copied to Zifa, the PSL and BancABC, spoke of “termination of chairmanship appointment of Dynamos Football Club.”
“The Board of Directors of Dynamos Football Club (Pvt) Ltd, at their recent meeting held on Saturday, 25th of June 2011, unanimously resolved to dissolve the present Executive Committee of Dynamos Football Club, which they hereby do,” read the letter.
“You have now ceased being Chairman of Dynamos Football Club with effect from 25th of June, 2011. Please be advised that the board is not obliged to give, or state, the reason for this action.
“The Board of Directors of Dynamos Football Club (Pvt) Ltd, would like to take this opportunity to graciously thank you, Sir, for the help and assistance you rendered to the club during your tenure. You greatly and immensely assisted
Dynamos to realise its dream and aspirations. Let me say the three magic little words, ‘Thank You Sir.’ May the Good Lord look upon you and your family with kind heart and abundantly bless all your endeavours.”
Similar letters, signed by Dynamos board Acting Secretary, Bernard Marriot Lusengo, were also sent to ousted vice-chairman Mubaiwa, secretary-general Sachiti, treasurer Mbewe and committee members, Chifamba and Kanokanga.
Another letter was sent to PSL chief executive, Kenny Ndebele, advising him of the changes made in the club’s structures.
“The Board of Directors of Dynamos Football Club (Pvt) Ltd, at their recent meeting held on Saturday, 25th of June 2011, unanimously resolved to dissolve the present Executive Committee of Dynamos Football Club, with effect from 25th June 2011,” read the letter.
“You will be advised of the new Executive Committee in due course.”
Sources indicated last night that the club’s directors decided to sack the executive because they were unhappy with the debt levels at the team, estimated to be around US$500 000, and they also believed there were a number of grey areas in the financial report presented for the last year.
“The other big issue that emerged at the meeting of the directors was the issue of players with Dynamos relying on hired material and having no vision to invest in its own personnel and also being turned into a flea market where its profile is now used as a marketing tool for players who don’t bring anything back into the club,” said the sources.
“It’s an area where the directors feel the executive has failed the club because a team without its own players cannot call itself a true football club.
“There is also the issue of Guthrie Zhokinyi, whose contract expires at the end of the month, but there has been no movement from the club’s executive to try and open negotiations to extend it despite his influential role in the team.
“A number of former players, who left the club, have been piling their lawsuits claiming different amounts in unpaid dues and they all seem to have acknowledgments of debt, signed by the executive, to justify their claims.
“Brighton Tuwaya, who is now playing for Blue Ribbon, has already had his case, where he is being supported by the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe, being heard by the Labour Court.
“So, in the eyes of the majority of the directors, the club is in a very bad shape and the only way to rescue it is to bring in fresh ideas and new leaders who can drive it forward.
“Obviously, there is resistance from the board chairman Chiminya who has always wanted the issue to be handled in a diplomatic manner and who believes Munetsi is the best candidate to run the club and there is a lot that has been happening in the background.
“But the other board members are adamant that the changes have to be effected and today (yesterday), they made it official by sending letters to Zifa and the PSL.”
The Glamour Boys struggled to make an impact, in the Champions League this year, after being knocked out in the first round for the first time in 30 years.
The club’s executive has struggled to run the team, overwhelmed by the operating costs, and reports that Dynamos were now being accommodated in sub-standard lodges.
Dynamos recently tied a deal with BancABC who will pump in US$100 000 into the club this year, with part of that money going into the salaries of the players and technical staff, while the other chunk will cover costs related to kit and transport.
Chiminya believed that since Munetsi and his team now had BancABC on their side to cater for some of the key running expenses, they needed to be given time to run the club without being weighed down by the challenge that comes from failure to pay the players their salaries.
Dynamos has a volatile history of boardroom squabbles.
The Herald could last night not establish the impact the latest developments are likely to have on the club’s relationship with their new sponsor, who made it their mandate to bring boardroom tranquility at the club when they came on board, and how coach Lloyd Mutasa and his technical crew will react to the sweeping changes.
