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Hearty congratulations Dynamos!

Opinion & Analysis
DYNAMOS were crowned the 2013 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions on Sunday. We would like to convey hearty congratulations

DYNAMOS were crowned the 2013 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions on Sunday. We would like to convey hearty congratulations to Zimbabwe’s most successful football club.

NewsDay Editorial

It was a historic 20th title, a third achieved on the trot by coach Kalisto Pasuwa and a third achieved by goal difference three years in a row. The win was achieved on the back of a 2-0 win over Black Mambas at Rufaro in Harare, which condemned the police side to Division One.

The difference between Dynamos and the rest of the teams in the top-flight league is their resilience and the power to fight on until the last drop. The energy from the players who understand what it means to put on the blue and white jersey has seen them scale greater heights.

For other teams, it’s about financial rewards first and then glory later. That is not how Dynamos operate – glory first and financial rewards later. While Simba Sithole has had a nightmarish stay in South Africa on two occasions, his stock has certainly risen as he scored the two priceless goals that handed Dynamos the league title.

And surely, the teams in South Africa that shut the door on him must be wondering at their crazy decisions to do so. The same goes for Oscar Machapa, who is now a league champion and together with Sithole should aim to be part of the Dynamos side in the Caf Champions League next season than rush to return to South Africa.

Since reaching the 1998 Champions League final, Dynamos have not done better than that, so we hope by December 31, they would have assembled a strong squad that will take them, first into the money spinning mini-league phase.

All the same, while we say cheers to Dynamos, thank you for a job well done in ensuring only good teams remained in the top flight for there is a difference between form and class in football. Mambas join two former champions Motor Action and Monomotapa in Division One next season.

Football development needs this – it requires that the game is spread across the country so that we can tap into the new talent available. We are tired of recycling the same old tired horses, while talent from other cities is not being recognised.We hope that with towns like Gweru, Kariba and Plumtree having teams in the top flight next season, we will witness new talent. Didn’t novelist NoViolet Bulawayo say We need new names, literally?

However, the lack of sponsorship was laid bare after Dynamos secretary-general Webster Chikengezha parted with $20 000 to keep the club afloat. Whether this is true or not, it reflects badly on the league and the club’s sponsors

Simple mathematics tell us that while Dynamos won $70 000 for being the league champions, they are surpassed in terms of earnings by How Mine, who finished in seventh place. How Mine are assured of $90 000 for reaching the Mbada Diamonds Cup final, and a further $18 000 for finishing the league in seventh place.

Second-placed Highlanders also have $90 000 waiting for them and $50 000 for finishing second and perhaps $40 000 more if they win the Mbada Diamonds Cup final, whose top prize is pegged at $130 000.