IN the wake of a harrowing 2025 campaign where the country’s most decorated football institution stared into the abyss of relegation, only to survive on the final day, a new dawn is breaking at Dynamos.
At the centre of this radical restoration is returning executive chairman Vincent Chawonza, who is promising to transform the “Glamour Boys” into a terrifying prospect for any opponent in the upcoming 2026 season.
Chawonza, who previously served as vice-chairman, returned to the helm earlier this year after the Moses Maunganidze-led board was dissolved following the club’s dismal performance.
Speaking on the sidelines of the PSL preseason workshop in Harare yesterday, Chawonza did not mince words about his vision for a “feared” DeMbare.
“As Dynamos, we know where we are coming from — that is fighting relegation in 2025,” Chawonza said.
"So we want to build a team that can compete without us putting pressure on the technical team as far as achievements are concerned.
“But every team that competes in the league is fighting for the championship.
“What we simply want to do is to build a Dynamos team that people will fear to play against. People will fear to play against us."
While traditional rivals like CAPS United, ambitious newcomers Hardrock FC, and reigning champions Scottland FC have been making noise with high-profile signings, Dynamos has opted for a "stealth mode" approach.
Chawonza revealed that the club has deliberately moved away from chasing aging "big names," focusing instead on hungry, unheralded talent.
"In terms of player acquisition, this time we paid attention to detail and we went for talent rather than just names so that we can compete and also expose those young players that have not been exposed before," he explained.
"I was at one point joking with our coach that I can't sign someone who is older than me, and you as a coach as well.
“So you find that we've gone for very young talent, unheralded, but with also two to three seasons of experience in the Premier League."
Despite the focus on youth, the club has managed to secure a massive financial injection.
Reports indicate that Sakunda Holdings is set to be unveiled as the principal sponsor in a deal valued at a staggering US2,5 million — a massive leap from the previous budget of less than US500 000.
Chawonza confirmed the stability:
"We started a bit late in our preparations in January, so in terms of sponsorship, our sponsor is committed,” he said. “We will announce at the right time.
“We are going to definitely compete and soon we will be announcing our players as well."
The "new look" DeMbare features 17 new faces, including the likes of William Manondo and Perfect Chikwende.
To lead this revolution, the club has handed the captain’s armband to midfield enforcer Shadreck Nyahwa.
The appointment of Nyahwa, who was recently linked with a move to Hardrock, is a statement of intent. He inherits the mantle from Emmanuel Jalai, who joined South African side Durban City.
"We are not placing any target for the coaches, but of course, a top-four finish will be good for us," Chawonza added modestly, despite the looming multimillion-dollar investment that includes a luxury team bus and support for junior and women's wings.
The "feared" Dynamos will face an immediate litmus test on February 15 in a charity match against arch-rivals Highlanders, before taking on champions Scottland in the Castle Challenge Cup.
For Chawonza and the DeMbare faithful, the goal is clear: restoring the aura of invincibility to the blue half of the capital.