DYNAMOS are racing against time to beat the Saturday deadline to register players for the Caf Champions League amid reports that fellow Premier Soccer League clubs are reluctant to release their players to the league champions.
REPORT BY HENRY MHARA
With a host of their stars also expected to leave for greener pastures during the January transfer window, Dynamos coach Kalisto Pasuwa has been caught in a Catch-22 situation.
Caf Champions League player registration deadline is on Saturday midnight and any player registered after that date will cost the club a $500 fine each.
A source yesterday said the Harare giants, who are the country’s only representative in Africa next year, had by yesterday managed to sign only two new players out of the 10 players that have been requested by Pasuwa and his technical team.
“The technical team has produced their wish list and two have signed so far. Only Morris Kadzola (former Motor Action defender) and Petros Mhari (former Hwange goalkeeper) have been confirmed,” said the source.
Top on the Dynamos wish list is striker Donald Ngoma (FC Platinum), Russel Madamombe (Monomotapa), Aaron Katebe (Hwange), Tawanda Nyamandwe (free agent), Willard Kalongonda (Harare City), and Artwell Mukandi (free agent).
Also on the list are Hwange striker Francesco Zikumbawire and the highly-rated Ugandan striker Boban Ziruntusa, who played for Division One side Twalumba last season.
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Another source yesterday said negotiations were believed to be at an advanced stage between Dynamos and the duo of Nyamandwe and Mukandi and a deal could be signed today.
The source added that negotiations for Katebe had been put on ice as the player was currently in Zambia with the national team. Katebe, according to reports from Zambia, is also wanted by champions Zanaco, who are coached by former Dynamos mentor Keegan Mumba.
FC Platinum on Tuesday publicly stated that they would not listen to any offers for their striker Ngoma while Monoz are also understood to have rejected any negotiations for one of their most-prized assets in Madamombe.
Hwange are also understood to be reluctant to release Zikumbawire, who is on a four-year contract at the Colliery, although negotiations between Dynamos and the player had reportedly commenced.
“Players are willing to join us, but their clubs are not willing to negotiate. We are ready to negotiate with anyone and we are prepared to part with a certain amount of money, but the problem is that some clubs are demanding outrageous amounts. That is the dilemma we are facing,” said Dynamos secretary-general Raymond Kazembe yesterday.
But the biggest dilemma facing Dynamos is to retain some of their stars from last season.
A source said the club’s hierarchy has been in meetings since Monday to find ways of solving the looming player exodus.
“There are some players who they are not sure if they should register or not because they might leave anytime.”
Chances are high that they could lose their talisman, Denver Mukamba, to a South African club while defensive rock Patson Jaure is training with SuperSport United while he awaits the processing of his visa for further trials in Turkey.
Winger Tichaona Mabvura is also on trials at SuperSport United and so is Farai Mupasiri, who is training with Washington Arubi’s Pretoria University.
South African Division One side Dynamos have publicly stated that they want striker Rodreck Mutuma and the two parties are reportedly on the verge of reaching a deal.
Another Absa Premiership side, Bloemfontein Celtic, have said they want to have a look at Simba Sithole while Tawanda Muparati is also reportedly on Chippa United’s radar, leaving Pasuwa with a lot to ponder about in the next two days.
