By Eddie Chikamhi
HARARE- The Dynamos board of directors have booted out vice-chairman John Kanokanga while demoting secretary general Nyika Chifamba in changes made to the executive committee at the weekend.
Kanokanga, who was elevated to the post six months ago, was the biggest victim in the restructuring exercise which also saw Webster Chikengezha being reassigned.
Harare businessman Kenny Mubaiwa remains the chairman while committee member Raymond Kazembe, who – among other responsibilities in his portfolio – was responsible for development, is the new secretary-general.
Chifamba, a former DeMbare team manager, reverts to being a committee member as Chikengezha assumes a new role as vice-chairman, leaving the key post of treasurer in a move which is more of a demotion.
Before his elevation, Chifamba had been roped in as a committee member. The board led by Richard Chiminya was reportedly not happy with the way things have been going at the club and on Saturday they decided to ring changes to improve operations ahead of the new season.
The chairman of the board of directors Richard Chiminya refused to discuss the details of the meeting and secretary Bernard Marriot was not available to confirm the changes. “There was no meeting, okay,” said Chiminya before hanging up his phone.
However it appears Kanokanga who was first roped into the Dynamos structures as a committee member during the Farai Munetsi era was the biggest casualty in the latest reshuffle.
Kanokanga is a director of Copy World, a company that has been playing a part in printing material for Dynamos’ 50th anniversary next year and sources said the board was not satisfied by the returns from the sale of the replicas and calendars.
“Overall the board was not happy with the way the executive committee has been conducting their business so they decided to make the changes,” said the sources.
Kanokanga and the other members of the executive committee are set to get their letters today informing them of the board’s decision.
Chikengezha was sacrificed as the board could not understand how the championship-winning club could be in the red after raking in prizes for winning the league title and the Mbada Diamonds Cup.
“Dynamos made quite some money from their last game at home against Kiglon which attracted a good crowd in the regions of over 25 000. They went on to win the Mbada Diamonds Cup and were given their prize money for winning the championship at around the same time and suddenly they claim the coffers are empty.
“The board was not happy with that and the way he made out payments without consultation. So he was demoted to a lesser role because the three key posts in the Dynamos executive are the chairman, secretary-general and treasurer.
The vice-chairman’s post is just ceremonial. It appears like they didn’t want to completely get rid of him because they feel if they are any financial irregularities he should be at hand to answer for it.”
It also appears Chifamba who was elevated to the powerful post of secretary general in July last year has failed his mandate and was heavily criticised for the way he handled contract talks with coach Callisto Pasuwa and the players.
Dynamos’ preparations for the new season were almost harmed by the contract wrangles between Pasuwa and the executive last month and the coach had to put pen to paper with the influence of the board and the intervention of the Soccer Coaches Union of Zimbabwe.
Although, DeMbare claim to have retained most of their players from last season, it has since emerged that some of the players are yet to put pen to paper to extend their stay at the Glamour Boys following g the expiry of their deals at the end the year.
“Chifamba was handling the contracts of the coaches and players but right now many players have not signed for the new season. The board feels he should have tied down the issue of contracts by now and the team should be going through their preparations without disturbances,” said the source.
Dynamos began their preparations last week with most of the players in attendance. The Harare giants hope to make a mark in the Champions League and at the same time they are fighting to retain their domestic crowns after bagging a remarkable league and cup double last year.
