April 22: Welcome Evans
June 29: Goodbye Evans
Just 68 days into his two-year contract, striker Evans “Earthquake” Gwekwerere has been kicked out of the Dynamos dressing room together with four other players in a mid-season offloading spree, which will be followed by the arrival of new players, as the club seeks to mount a serious Premier Soccer League title charge.
BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA
The other four players shown the door are forwards Richard Kawondera, Farai Mupasiri, Walter Mukanga and defender Jimmy Dzingai.
Gwekwerere arrived at the Harare giants on April 22 amid hype and expectation at the demand of former head coach, Portuguese Paulo Jorge Silva.
But he has struggled to make it into the first team, with sporadic substitute appearances failing to make meaningful impact.
Lloyd Mutasa, who took over from the sacked Silva, believes Gwekwerere now lacks the spark and the trademark predatory instincts he possessed when he exploded on the scene.
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He agreed with the team management yesterday that the player was now excess to requirements at the club. Mutasa has also asked Kawondera, Mupasiri, Mukanga and Dzingai to look for employment elsewhere.
“We met with the technical team and they have told us the players they have asked to leave. We have Jimmy Dzingai, Evans Gwekwerere, Farai Mupasiri, Richard Kawondera and Walter Mukanga,” club treasurer, Webster Marechera said yesterday.
When Dynamos count the costs of Silva’s reign, Gwekwerere’s capture will feature prominently, as the club will have to pay him after cancelling his contract.
Silva was excited by Gwekwerere, he hurried the club into signing him ahead of the Harare derby against Caps United, which they lost 1-0, with the player making a late appearance as a substitute.
Mutasa is remoulding Dynamos and wants to bring in better quality.
Dynamos are on the verge of sealing a deal with Denver Mukamba, who has been training with them after returning from South Africa, where he was on the books of Bidvest Wits.
The Harare giants are also reportedly keen on engaging former Warriors and Kaizer Chiefs forward, Ovidy Karuru during the transfer window, which opens tomorrow.
Karuru is back in the country after he was offloaded by the South African giants.
Dynamos are now back in contention for the championship after a sluggish start under Silva, who was eventually given the boot after winning just one match against Mutare City in five games at the start of the campaign.
Under Mutasa and his assistant, Murape Murape, Dynamos have managed three straight wins for the first time this season, including two victories at Rufaro, where they had struggled to win or score a goal.
The results have lifted them into fifth position on the league table, with 17 points, nine behind log pacesetters Highlanders, who are on 26 points after 11 games.
The Glamour Boys make the trip to the City of Kings to face Bulawayo City on Sunday.
