Dynamos set up camp in Kariba
DYNAMOS have retreated to Kariba as they intensify their preparations ahead of the 2024 Premiership season.
The Glamour Boys will be fighting on two fronts as they are scheduled to return to continental club football for the first time in more than a decade when they compete in the CAF Confederation Cup after winning the Chibuku Super Cup last season.
Coach Genesis “Kaka” Mangombe will also make winning the league title a top priority to preserve the club’s fine reputation.
Since their formation in 1963, Dynamos have never gone for more than 10 years without lifting the championship trophy.
They last won the league title in 2014 and the team will have to wrap it up to avoid denting their track record.
And the giants are leaving nothing to chance, taking with them about 35 players to the resort town where they aim to attain concrete team bonding and build one of the most important motor quality-endurance.
The former champions will spend 10 days in Kariba where they are also scheduled to engage ZPC Kariba in a practice game on Saturday.
Dynamos chairman Moses Maunganidze said the team is expected to partake in various leisure activities aimed at creating unity and focus before they return to the capital early next week.
“The team is in Kariba where they arrived on Saturday. They are expected to spend about 10 days engaging in different team building exercises to foster unity within the group,” said Maunganidze.
“As a club, we are going to make sure that we afford these players everything they need to prepare for the upcoming season.
“We are also taking this opportunity to preach to these players the Dynamos ideology which will be a continuous thing as we go.
“We need to have players who know the core values that define a Dynamos player. We are a team with a culture and we should try by all means to inculcate that into our players.
“At the end of the day we should build a winning team that can roll back the hands of time and be able to fill the country’s stadiums again”.
The Harare giants have signed several experienced players as they bid to rule the local football landscape again.
While losing some of their star players from last season like Junior Makunike and Taimon Mvula, the Glamour Boys have taken on board the vastly experienced duo of Temptation Chiunga, who was making waves at South Africa’s first division side
JDR Stars last season and former Hearts of Oak midfielder Frederick Ansah Botchway of Ghana.
They have also brought in former FC Platinum defender Nomore Chinyerere and Namibian forward Sydney Uri Khob.
The pair of Ephany Gwavava and Meki Meki who were signed from second division side Dulivhadzimu last season and loaned back to the team have also rejoined the club.
They are under assessment with Mangombe saying he will come up with a decision to loan them or to have them for this season.
“Honestly speaking, these are very good players. They are impressive and we will consider a lot of factors before we have a decision.
“We have about 33 players in our books right now but we will secure more and that means we will also have to loan some elsewhere.
“I am very happy with what these guys are doing at the moment and we will see as preparations progress which areas need to be addressed,” said Mangombe.
“But so far so good. Everyone is happy and the performance level is top-notch from everyone.
“This is what we expect and it gives us a lot of confidence going forward.”
GREENFuEL boss, Rodwell Dhlakama does not know where Denver Mukamba is at the moment.
Dhlakama had expressed his desire to give Mukamba another chance.
But the whereabouts of the 2012 Castle Lager Premiership Soccer Star of the Year are still unknown, even though teams are halfway through their pre-season training.
Mukamba has already been left out of Dynamos’ 2024 squad announced at the weekend, ending any hopes he could be reconsidered by coach Genesis Mangombe.
It was already known that Dynamos had closed the door on him hence the public announcement by Dhlakama late last year that he would give Mukamba another chance in Chisumbanje this coming season.
But with time running out, Dhlakama will be forced to look elsewhere to fill the slot.
So far, Dhlakama has not shown any signs of giving up but he is a concerned man.
“I last spoke with him last season and I will never say no to him, it’s something he knows.
“I haven’t communicated with him for a while and I don’t know where he is at the moment, that’s all I can say for now,” said Dhlakama.
Meanwhile, GreenFuel have secured the services of former Chegutu Pirates goalkeeper, Tendai Chirara.
The 20-year-old has joined Dhlakama’s camp on a one-year deal bringing an end to months of speculation regarding his future.
he was a key player in Chegutu Pirates’ successful pursuit of glory last season, managing 26 clean sheets in 32 matches in the ZIFA Northern Region Division one Soccer League.
Chirara is expected to fill the shoes of the club’s former captain, David Bizabani, who joined FC Platinum earlier this month.
he will however, face competition from Nedreck Mudeya, who also joined Dhlakama’s
team from hwange.
Chirara and Dhlakama have previously worked together during his forgettable time at Ngezi Platinum’s developmental side.
Talking to Zimpapers Sports, Chirara wants to replicate his last season’s success with GreenFuel although he understands it will be a difficult task.
‘’I have always wanted to play in the PSL and last season I really gave it my all to make that happen.
‘’I cannot afford to lower my expectations because it is now a different league, but I will try to remain focused and hope for the best outcome.
‘’This is a new environment with different expectations. At the moment, we are still training and the coaches have not shared much with us, but we know they are expecting nothing less than our best,”said Chirara.
he also praised Chegutu Pirates for helping him become a better goalie.
‘’Chegutu Pirates will always hold a special place in my heart, and I am grateful for what they did for my life and career.
‘’The supporters were amazing, and they helped me in so many ways during my time there.
‘’Pfupajena will always be my home, and I wish them well in the upcoming season,” he said.
Elsewhere, Simba Bhora have parted ways with veteran midfielder, Ronald “Rooney”Chitiyo after his contract expired at the end of the last campaign.
Alexander Mandinyenya is also believed to have packed his bags after the end of his loan agreement with harare City.
Chitiyo and Mandinyenya scored four goals each to help Simba Bhora avoid relegation.
Goalkeeper Leroy Madziro, who was Simba Chinani’s backup, is also rumoured to be considering a loan move elsewhere after the arrival of two Warriors goalkeepers, Talbert Shumba and Taimon Mvula.