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NewsDay

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Dynamos race against time

Sport
Dynamos are racing against time to try and tie down some of their current squad players whose contracts end on December 31, amid growing fears that rival teams are closing in to capitalise on the situation. Dynamos face Hwange at the Colliery on Sunday. The Harare giants yesterday confirmed at least six of their players […]

Dynamos are racing against time to try and tie down some of their current squad players whose contracts end on December 31, amid growing fears that rival teams are closing in to capitalise on the situation.

Dynamos face Hwange at the Colliery on Sunday. The Harare giants yesterday confirmed at least six of their players are yet to fully commit themselves to the club, but said negotiations with the players had started.

Club treasurer Webster Chikengezha refused to disclose the names of players whose contracts are expiring at the end of the year but sources said Martin Vengesayi, Denver Mukamba, Devon Chafa, David Kutyauripo, Maxwell Mupanedengu and Augustine Mbara have only two months left on their contracts.

It is also understood that on-loan players Washington Arubi, Murape and Tawanda Muparati could return to their teams come December if outstanding fees are not settled.

“We have already started negotiations for all the players whose contracts are expiring at the end of the year. What we want is for all the players at the club to sign at least three year contracts.

“However, we have a situation where the managers of some of these players are insisting on signing only short-term contacts of six months to one year.

These are the people we are currently negotiating with. We are saying all the players should sign at least two years preferably. We have set the October 31 deadline to finish all the negotiations to conclude all the deals.

In fact, our plan in future is to make all the players permanent. We have already started doing that by signing all our junior players on permanent basis. All our under-19 team has signed permanent contracts and we want to do the same for the senior team,” said Chikengezha.

Chikengezha said lack of money at the club was slowing down negotiations with most players said to be demanding cash upfront before they could put pen to paper.

One local travel agent has already heeded the call for financial assistance.

LaChelle Travel and Tours yesterday came to the club’s rescue when it donated a sum of $14 000 to pay players all their outstanding bonuses.

The players last week went on strike, demanding their winning bonuses and other incentives which date back to March. The players were handed the cash at a function held at the travel agent’s premises yesterday.

LaChelle Travel and Tour’s director of public relations Mary Mubaiwa said: “Dynamos has been very impressive in the last few weeks and we don’t want them to lose focus as they play their last matches.

That is why we have decided to chip in and pay the outstanding bonuses to keep the morale high. This is not the first time we have helped the team. We gave the team advance tickets when they travelled to Algeria for a Champions League match, a debt which they are still struggling to pay up.”

Club chairman Kenny Mubaiwa said the money was enough motivation for his team as they hunt for a double this season.

Dynamos are still on the running for the Mbada Diamonds Cup which has reached semi-final stage and they are also on second position on the league with only four games left to play.

This Sunday, the Harare giants will travel to Hwange for a league match which they just cannot afford to lose if they are to keep pace with the log leaders.

FC Platinum, who have 49 points — one more than Dynamos — host Shabanie Mine at Mandava Stadium in a Zvishavane derby while fading Motor Action will look to reignite their title ambitions when they host relegation-haunted Shooting Stars at Motor Action Sports club. Maximum points will be the name of the game for the leading trio.

Fixtures Sunday: Kiglon v Monomotapa (Gwanzura), Hwange v Dynamos (Colliery), Highlanders v Gunners (Barbourfields), FC Platinum v Shabanie Mine (Mandava), Motor Action v Shooting Stars (Motor Action Sports Club), Masvingo United v Zimbabwe Saints (Mucheke), Chicken Inn v Black Mambas (Luveve), CAPS United v Blue Ribbon (National Sports Stadium).