DYNAMOS coach Lloyd Chigowe looks headed towards plunging into the 2025 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season with a completely new squad as players continue to shuffle towards the exit door seeking pastures anew.
Nine key players, among them captain Frank Makarati, have already left, and they could be joined by a host of others on the list of departures.
Other players who have also moved on are the Moyo twins Kelvin and Elvis, Tanaka Shandirwa, Emmanuel Ziocha, Arthur Musiiwa, Donald Mudadi, Issa Sadiki and Sadney Urikhob.
It has emerged that Shadreck Nyahwa could follow Makarati to the Gweru-based side TelOne, with sources close to the deal saying “it’s as good as done”, while first choice goalkeeper Martin Mapisa is being lured by Simba Bhora.
The former Spain-based goalkeeper has given the thumbs up to the deal and negotiations are said to be at an advanced stage.
Vice-captain Emmanuel Jalai is believed to be club hunting outside the country, while Ghanaian midfielder Fredrick Ansa Botchway, who still has a year on his contract with Dynamos, is a target by a number of teams, including moneybags Scottland FC.
Another Ghanaian, Emmanuel Paga, is currently in the United States and it’s not clear whether he will be returning to Harare to rejoin Dynamos after his contract with the club lapsed at the end of the year.
Essentially, all the regular players from last season have either moved on or are on the brink, leaving Chigowe with a huge task of building a strong squad to compete on two fronts in the upcoming season.
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DeMbare will return to the Confederations Cup after retaining the Chibuku Super Cup last season.
Chigowe, who is holding trials in search of new players, is not worried by the mass exodus, with the affable gaffer saying he has also managed to convince a number of players with Premiership experience to join and fill in the gap created by those who have left.
“For the record, we have signed players with Premier League experience. It’s not like we are signing only players from Division One and novices, no. We do have good players, but at the moment, we can’t disclose their names,” he said.
Dynamos are believed to be closing in on Yadah defender Clive Mandivei and former Caps United and Yadah winger Leeroy Mavhunga, who played for Scottland in Division One last season.
Mavhunga was not retained by the well-resourced side, who have embarked on a massive players recruitment, signing top players in the local league.
Ghanaian Frank Adymang is also training with Dynamos on trials, and it appears he has done enough to earn himself a contract.
“We also have some foreigners who are among us. We have got a striker we are assessing and he looks promising. We will work a little bit with him,” Chigowe said.
“So we are not in murky waters really in terms of players with exposure, but, of course, it will be good for us to introduce new talent and new gems. We cannot be masters of recycling.
“It’s not an easy road to build a new team, but we have to be realistic and accept that these players need to change in their lives. But there are others who will take the opportunity to fill in their boots.”
Dynamos endured a frustrating season last year, which was characterised by player strikes over salaries and bonuses.
But the team somehow managed to overcome the financial struggles and defend the Chibuku Super Cup title.
Chigowe’s men were eliminated in the first round of the Caf Confederations Cup last season, with their premature exit blamed on the club’s financial struggles.
The broke club has been in recent times surviving on the benevolence of Sakunda Holdings, but the two parties’ relations are reportedly strained.
The energy giant is reportedly yet to commit themselves to sponsor the club next season.
Reports suggest that Sakunda is demanding structural changes at the top of the club’s hierarchy before they can inject more money into the team.
Lack of funds have left the club in a difficult position as they cannot fund any transfer activities.
