Dynamos have given coach Calisto Pasuwa until the end of this week to extend his contract or risk losing the job as the squabbles at the championship-winning side took yet another interesting twist yesterday.
Pasuwa’s contract is set to end at the end of this month and negotiations for an extension have reportedly stalled amid reports of serious disagreements between the coach and the Kenny Mubaiwa-led executive.
Dynamos treasurer Webster Chikengezha confirmed they would meet Pasuwa today. “We should be meeting Pasuwa tomorrow (today) to discuss his contract,” said Chikengezha.
“We are trying to engage him, but unfortunately he is not forthcoming. The chairman (Mubaiwa) called him today (yesterday), but he is not answering his phone. I also personally tried to call him, but he is not responding to the calls. We are hoping we will be able to meet him tomorrow (today).”
Last night, Pasuwa confirmed the meeting with Dynamos secretary-general Nyika Chifamba, set for this morning. He said he and his two assistants, Tichaona Diya, Tonderai Ndiraya and team manager Richard Chihoro, who are also yet to sign their contracts, would attend.
Pasuwa yesterday also held a meeting with the leadership of the Dynamos supporters’ association who were reportedly persuading him to sign the contract.
He said: “When I joined Dynamos I was given a caretaker contract which expires at the end of the year, but later on I read in the newspapers that if I won five games I would be given the job on a substantive basis.
“After I had won those games I was given a letter confirming that I’m now the substantive coach, but surprisingly, there was no contract attached to it.
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When l asked the executive they said they were still discussing the issue. With two games remaining in the season l then asked them because l wanted to start recruiting players for the Champions League and they said they would come back to us.
“They then told me that l should bring a draft contract, and although it was supposed to be the other way round, l did submit it to the treasurer (Chikengezha).
When l went to check on the draft l was told my demands were too much and most of the clauses and the figures on the draft contract were cancelled.
I went back to the secretary-general on Saturday who said they had drafted a contract for me. We were supposed to meet today (yesterday), but he said he was busy so we have set for another meeting tomorrow (today) at nine in the morning.”
On the new Zambian players, Derek Kabwe and Arthur Kaseloki, he said: “l never recommended the two Zambians. I did not go to Zambia.
They asked me to go with Chifamba to Zambia, but l was not certain if l was going to get the job and l recommended that my two assistants should go.
“I was told Sachiti will replace me, so he and Chifamba went to Zambia. I never saw them playing and I don’t know if they will fit into the system.”
Keegan Mumba, on the other hand, has dismissed speculation linking him to Harare giants Dynamos, saying it was all “rumours”, but admitted that he would be interested in making a return to the local league if the right offer comes.
The controversial Zambian mentor walked out on Dynamos in 2004, with a year still to run on his contract after accusing the executive of failing to fulfil all conditions of his employment.
However, after recently leading Zambia’s Under-20 team to the Cosafa Metropolitan Under-20 Youth Championship title Mumba has been linked with a move back to the League and Cup double winners.
“The truth of the matter is I haven’t talked to anyone from there, even though I have to admit Dynamos have a special place in my heart.
At the moment, everything that is being said is just rumours, but I’m open to negotiations because I don’t have any running contract with the Football Association of Zambia (Faz),” Mumba said in an interview with NewsDay Sport from Lusaka yesterday.
“After all Zimbabwe is like a second home to me and if something concrete came up and we agree terms, I would be interested,” said the former Dynamos, Shooting Stars and Motor Action coach.
