Dynamos are close to signing a sponsorship deal with a leading sports gear manufacturing company, a development which will alleviate the Harare football giants’ financial problems.
Club chairman Farai Munetsi confirmed the impending deal yesterday in the aftermath of concerns from players over lack of payment before Monday’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match against Masvingo United at Rufaro.
Dynamos won the match 5-1, but that was after defender David Kutyauripo, who scored the opener from the spot, had gestured to the VVIP stand where the team’s executive was seated, a sign conceived to have meant that team’s bosses need to “pay up”.
The players and technical team had met for lunch at a local restaurant before the match where they demanded an address from Munetsi before they took to the field. Munetsi said the gesture was done in goodwill.
“In fact, we are close to signing a sponsorship deal with a leading sportswear manufacturing company that will assist us in all these issues.
“We are not the only ones affected by money issues, but it is not like we are not doing anything; we are working hard to making sure that everything falls into place so that we can concentrate on the business of delivering results.
“I addressed the players and made a very motivational statement before the match against Masvingo and they understood our position; so it’s not like David made the gesture in bad taste, it was actually made in goodwill.
“We had made promises to them and David was simply saying: We are delivering the goods on the field, can you also keep the promise to deliver? And we have done that,” Munetsi told NewsDay Sport on Tuesday.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Munetsi would not reveal the name of the company, but for now his side is using the Adidas stripe, which sources claim is the company likely to strike a deal with the Harare giants.
Dynamos players are understood to be paid at least $300 per month, in addition to winning bonuses.
They have only won two games, 5-1 against Masvingo and 2-0 against FC Platinum, and drawn twice against Highlanders and Hwange.
Two losses sit on their season start: 1-0 against Kiglon and 2-0 against defending champions Motor Action.
According to informed sources, the players agreed to take to the field against Masvingo on the understanding that they would be paid from proceeds from the match, which was expected to be done on Tuesday.
“They have been making promises and they promised to pay today (Tuesday). What we needed is to be told the truth about what is happening rather than for the club executive to send a second party to address us because we would not know whether he is telling the truth or not,” said one player.
New secretary-general Simon Sachiti said: “As far as we know, we are paying the players and if there is anything we owe, I will know in tomorrow’s (We’s) executive meeting.”
Dynamos are not the only side in problems: Highlanders property, including the team bus, was last week saved from being auctioned by Mines minister Obert Mpofu after he paid $22 000 for monies owed to former coach Mohammed Fathi.
Kiglon have once again gone on sale, Monomotapa have also raised the For Sale sign, while Zimbabwe Saints players were last week demanding their dues, which they claimed had not been paid since the start of the season.
