By Grace Chingoma
Paulo Jorge Silva seems to be getting a stay of execution despite Dynamos’ poor start to their Premiership challenge, amid revelations that the Glamour Boys’ management are being hamstrung by a $50 000 payout clause should they arbitrarily fire him.
The revelations follow stunning disclosures yesterday that Silva never played as a top-flight goalkeeper, as he claimed in his CV, with a Portuguese source even describing his fellow countryman as “a fake” coach.
Silva has been living on the edge since he failed to meet the Glamour Boys’ expectations. He has only one win, a 2-1 triumph over Mutare City at Sakubva, and two draws against Triangle and Hwange while losing to Chicken Inn and CAPS United in the opening five matches.
Despite threats that Silva would be shown the door for allegedly failing to meet the points target set for him, the expatriate coach seems to have found a way of surviving each passing week with the Dynamos management shifting goalposts and holding endless review meetings related to his future. The coach has even been boasting that his only ultimatum was to win the league title.
The Dynamos leadership are expected to meet again this week to review the situation in their camp and there were indications last night that club president Kenny Mubaiwa’s absence had caused the postponement of the meeting.
Silva first made the revelations that he had a $50 000 payout clause when he toured Malawi with Dynamos during pre-season. That tour was characterised by clashes between Silva and goalkeepers coach Gift “Umbro’’ Muzadzi and some of the players.
It was during that stormy period that Silva told The Herald in Malawi that should Dynamos fire him arbitrarily, the temperamental coach would have to be paid a cool $50 000.
“Silva’s salary is understood to be catered for by the club’s sponsors BancABC but the club management will have to fork out the severance package from somewhere else should they decide to part ways with their expatriate coach early.
Club secretary-general Webster Chikengezha, however, said they are yet to convene the meeting they want to hold to review the technical team’s performance.
“We are yet to review anything. The treasurer was away and I am yet to get hold of the president, who was unreachable since morning. Once I get hold of the president we will then set up a date,” Chikengezha said.
The Dynamos secretary-general denied they had a clause in their agreement with Silva to pay the coach $50 000 if they send him packing early on in the season. “We don’t have such a clause. I don’t know where people are getting that information,” he said.
Chikengezha insisted that he could not further comment on the coach’s future before the meeting had been held, arguing that discussing Silva before the review indaba would merely be an expression of his personal opinion.
“Dynamos is an institution and I cannot make personal opinions, it creates unnecessary controversy. I represent the club. When the president is available he is going to call me. We have not even heard how the team travelled from Hwange and the treasurer only arrived this afternoon with the team and really there is nothing to comment on here at the moment”.
Although Chikengezha chose to be mum, the Dynamos management have not publicly expressed their frustrations at having to watch their side pick five points from as many games so far.
Dynamos face another tough assignment in their next encounter when they welcome an FC Platinum side who have got off to a flying start along with CAPS United. While Silva also awaits his fate, Muzadzi, who was handed a suspension letter, will have to undergo a disciplinary hearing that will determine his future.
Muzadzi fell out with Silva, with the Portuguese blaming him for alleged sabotage in the dressing room politics. However, even in the absence of Muzadzi, Silva has struggled badly to get the results that the Harare giants’ fans are demanding and, with CAPS United flying at the moment, emotions are running high at the Glamour Boys. The Herald
