De-Crisis: Booze, sabotage and deceit rampant at Dynamos

By Langton Nyakwenda

The abuse of alcohol is said to be rampant at Dynamos, where some players are understood to have even “celebrated” last weekend’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League defeat to bottom of the table Border Strikers as they push for the axing of Lloyd Mutasa.

This clique, which is said to have the backing of some senior Dynamos executive members, is accused of deliberately underperforming as part of a despicable plan to engineer the sacking of Mutasa and his entire technical bench.

The damning allegations were raised during a crisis meeting held after DeMbare’s workout at Motor Action Sports Club in Harare on Friday. The indaba, which was also attended by club patron Webster Shamu, saw Dynamos players and coaches have a frank exchange ahead of this afternoon’s clash with Bulawayo City at Rufaro.

DeMbare’s fall in Beitbridge was the latest in a growing list of poor results that have once again raised questions about Mutasa’s ability to lead the former champions and Zimbabwe’s glamour club.

Mutasa has taken charge of 13 matches; winning six, drawing four and losing three in a run that translates into a 56 percent success rate. A source within Dynamos claimed that club president Kenny Mubaiwa, who last week said the poor run had put him under pressure to “act”, is not a fan of the Mutasa and Murape Murape coaching combination.

“The meeting we have just held was meant to address serious challenges we are facing in our day to day operations,” said the source. “What we have at the club is a camp of players who are being used to sabotage Mutasa’s work and it is clear that the executive is losing faith in the technical bench but the situation is beyond the control of the coaches.

“But the same executive hasn’t been playing ball, they just want results at all costs without ensuring the working environment is conducive,” said the source.

Indiscipline among players, including the alleged abuse of alcohol and other drugs, is also said to be rampant at the club.

Although Mutasa and his assistant Murape Murape, who are both operating without contracts, refused to comment on the allegations of sabotage, it was evident after Friday’s meeting that all was not well at DeMbare.

Mutasa instead chose to speak about the goal drought that has ravaged Dynamos.

“We started scoring against Border Strikers last week and we will score again on Sunday (today),” he said.

“Everything has a beginning and strong characters respond positively mostly when under such criticism and I have faith in both what we are doing and what the boys can do.”

That Masimba Mambare, a wide midfielder is Dynamos’ top-scorer with just three goals this season, and Roderick Mutuma – the club’s chief striker – has only two goals after 18 rounds, captures the crisis DeMbare find themselves mired in.

Some pundits have suggested that Mutasa use Mambare as a false number nine, but the DeMbare gaffer has ruled out such tactical switch.

“He (Mambare) is scoring whilst playing wide, the position he knows best and changing him might be a disservice. We tried it with Godknows (Murwira) when we pushed him to the right attacking wing and it never worked. We have better options and God is in control,” said Mutasa.

Dynamos president Mubaiwa was not available for comment.

Fixtures (All matches start at 3pm)

Highlanders v Chicken Inn (BF), Hwange v Caps United (Colliery), Dynamos v Bulawayo City (Rufaro). The Sunday Mail