DeMbare accused of transfer market bullying

By Ishemunyoro Chingwere

Dynamos, the country’s sole representatives in this year’s Champion’s league, have come under fire from various local clubs who are accusing them of using bullying tactics on the transfer mar­ket.

Dynamos have been working round the clock to wrap up their squad for this year’s edi­tion of the Orange CAF Champions League in which they are targeting at least a mini-league appearance after dominating the lo­cal premier­ship over the last two seasons.

It is against this backdrop that the Castle Lager Pre­mier Soccer League champions have knocked on the doors of various fellow premiership clubs in search of re­inforcements.

While many clubs expect reasonable transfer fees to indude them to part with their prized assets, DeM­bare are, however, said to be offering “paltry transfer fees” in the hope that the allure of Champions League action and the club’s rich history will do the trick.

This is the reason why DeMbare have been fighting a losing battle on the transfer market where they have missed the signatures of Aaron Katebe, Donald Ngoma, Ronald Chitiyo, Martin Vengesayi and Nelson Mazi­wisa.

The Glamour Boys are still battling to land Hwange’s talented striker Francisco Zikumbawire while Russel Madamombe, whose move appeared to have been sealed, is in jeopardy as Dynamos and Monoz are hag­gling over a permanent transfer fee.

DeMbare’s offer of US$10 000 for Madamombe’s permanent move to the Harare giants was flatly rejected by Monoz who have instead offered a one-year loan deal worth US$4 000. Monoz chairman Joseph Mukoki explained: “They are still to respond to our loan offer and we have since given them an ultimatum to either pay before the end of next week (this week) or we recall the player.

“We felt it was inconsiderate of them to offer us US$10 000 for a permanent deal for such a tal­ented player whom we groomed since he was 13 years old, sent him to school (Price Edward) and developed his ­career,” said Mukoki.

Monoz were also reluctant to release star player Chi­tiyo after DeMbare had offered US$8 000 for the Castle Lager Soccer Star of the Year Award second runner-up.

Chitiyo has since left for trials with South African soccer­ giants Orlando Pirates. An FC Platinum offi­cial told The Sunday Mail that the Glamour Boys, who were desperate to sign lanky for­ward Donald Ngoma, offered only US$8 000 for the Warriors trialist.

“They called him on several occasions saying Dynamos will offer him a better platform to market himself inter­nationally.

“We obviously felt what they offered for the player was an insult considering the value we had added on Ngoma, who happens to a top-notch striker,” disclosed the official ­who refused to be named, saying he was no longer in the team executive whose new names were announced recently.

However, Dynamos chairman Kenny Mubaiwa dis­missed the allegations and stressed that his club always conducts its business in a profes­sional manner.

“As far as I am con­cerned, we have absolutely no problem with any club. We actually had an executive meeting on Friday where we discussed the issue of both Zikum­bawire and Russel.

“We have agreed terms with both players and their clubs, so I don’t know where this is coming from,” said Mubaiwa.

The Harare giants chairman, however, refused to ei­ther confirm or deny the meagre transfer fees they are said to be offering but said they always offer what they think a particular player is worth.

Dynamos, Caps United and Highlanders have over the years attracted the best talent on the market thanks to the lime­light they always attract. However, the coming on board of teams who are backed by corpo­rate giants like Chicken Inn and FC Platinum is threat­ening the status quo.

FC Platinum last week managed to snatch Zambian Aaron Katebe after reportedly offering him US$40 000 signing-on fees, a sum none of the three tra­ditional giants can pay even if it were to be the transfer fee.