Veronica Gwaze

Zimpapers Sports Hub

SOME things just never seem to change.

At a time when their attention should be shifting from the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League survival battle to defending their Chibuku Super Cup title, another strike action has rocked the Dynamos camp.

And, as has been the case on previous occasions, it is centred on disgruntled players demanding their long outstanding signing-on fees and winning bonuses.

Dynamos, looking to win a record third straight Chibuku Super Cup title face Triangle at Gibbo on Saturday.

But the player boycott, which has been simmering in the last few months came to the fore yesterday when they downed tools.

The protesting players turned up at their training ground at Christ Ministries but refused to go about their paces, just two days after a battling 0-0 draw with FC Platinum guaranteed their Premiership status.

Speaking to Zimpapers Sport, the players said they would not partake in training for the Chibuku Super Cup final until their demands have been met.

An apparent breakdown in communication between the executive committee and the players appears to have worsened the situation.

“The problem is that they do not even communicate with us, which shows that they take us for granted . . . we sat at the stadium for two hours and none of them showed up to at least talk to us,” said the players.

“Without remuneration, it means we are not able to feed our families and for a professional player, this is unacceptable.

“We signed contracts which stipulate that they are obliged to pay us for playing which is why we are withdrawing our services until they clear our dues.”

The players are owed bonuses for two draws and a win while a section of the team have not yet received their signing-on fees since the start of the season.

For each win, a player should receive US$300, while draws are pegged at US$150 per game translating to each player being owed at least US$600.

Further, some of the players are still owed signing-on fees from last season and they have not received any communication on when that will be settled.

The players also fear that they could be dumped by the club once they feature in their last game of 2025 season, the Chibuku final. Dynamos executive chairman Moses Maunganidze admitted the turmoil in their camp but claimed they were trying to resolve the impasse.

“We are running around, trying to ensure that we address their (players) concerns; we do not blame them in any way for being mad,” he said.

“This is a bad time for us to have such issues pop up, we are in the process of ensuring that we solve it amicably.

“Meetings are happening right now, and we hope something positive comes up because our aim is to defend the Chibuku Cup.” While FC Platinum and Harare City have won the Chibuku Super Cup twice, no team has won the prestigious tournament in succession.

If Dynamos win it for the third time on the bounce, it will be a record that could last for a long time.

Their opponents in this edition Triangle, have won the cup once before as did the Sugar Sugar Boys coach Genesis Mangombe who was in charge when DeMbare won it in 2023.

Triangle, just like Dynamos, also only survived relegation on the final day, coming from behind to snatch a vital point from a 1-1 draw with GreenFuel.

History will also be against Dynamos, who have not won at Gibbo in four years.

The last time that Dynamos went on industrial action was two days before their Chibuku Super Cup semi-final fixture against Highlanders which they eventually won 5-3 on penalties at Rufaro.