By Sheldon Hakata
FALLEN giants Dynamos FC and their bitter rivals Highlanders continued with their poor run of form after being held to disappointing draws by TelOne and new boys Mushowani Stars, respectively, as the shift in power in the Castle Lager Premier League continues to manifest in unprecedented fashion.
It has been a disastrous outing for the two stuttering giants who have failed to heed the call for good corporate governance and consistency on the bench.
One fundamental aspect that seems to have eluded football administrators and club directors is their shocking consistency in hiring and firing coaches.
What is alarming is that this penchant for pulling the trigger has found residence in one of the country’s biggest clubs, Dynamos FC.
Since 2014, a total of seven coaches have been fired by the stuttering Harare ‘giants’ after the inimitable Kalisto Pasuwa had guided the team to four straight titles, their last since then.
Dynamos has changed coaches at a rate of two per season since Pasuwa’s successful reign at the club, an indication that the problem lies with directors.
Heading into Week Six of the exciting league, the contrast between the two ‘giants’ and the high flying trio of leaders and hot favourites FC Platinum, Hwange FC and CAPS United is yawning.
DeMbare have already sacked the affable Lloyd ‘MaBlanyo’ Chigowe, while dark clouds are ominously hovering above Bosso gaffer Madinda Ndlovu.
In contrast, the trio of FC Platinum coach, Norman Mapeza; Hwange gaffer Nation Dube; and CAPS United mentor Lloyd Chitembwe have been coaching their teams for three or more years.
It is that consistency on the bench that has allowed their teams to flourish as the coaches have been given time to build units that play according to their style.
The results are there for all to see.
FC Platinum have clinched the title in the past two seasons and are gunning for their third title in a row while CAPS United are mounting a serious challenge for glory this season.
As has been the norm at DeMbare in recent times, they find themselves hanging precariously in the drop zone, although it is early days yet.
Their dreadful record off the field of play is there for all to see.
Soon after clinching a record fourth straight league title in November 2014, David ‘Yogi’ Mandigora took over but was sacked in July 2015, despite Dynamos being three points behind then log leaders Triangle, going into the second half of the season.
In came Tonderai ‘Stanza’ Ndiraya, who guided the Harare giants to second position plus an appearance in the Chibuku Super Cup final.
Ndiraya was deemed not good enough and shown the exit door at the end of the season while Portuguese coach, little known Paolo Jorge Silva, was entrusted with the ropes on January 19 2016.
Silva’s comical reign lasted only until May 13 when he was replaced by Lloyd Mutasa.
Mutasa secured fifth position at the end of season and given full reigns in 2017 which term he finished second behind FC Platinum.
On May 8 2018, Lloyd ‘Samaita’ Mutasa faced the chop.
Biggie Zuze only took charge of four matches before Mutasa bounced back.
Mutasa was fired again on September 28 and replaced by Lloyd Chigowe who oversaw Dynamos revival until last week, after only four games in the 2019 season.
Dynamos fired the maverick MaBlanyo last week on Monday, a day after losing 1-0 to the Students, Herentals FC, at Rufaro Stadium.
Dynamos have changed coaches nine times, including Mutasa and the returning Ndiraya’s two spells.
Tonderai ‘Stanza’ Ndiraya returns to the Glamour Boys hoping to change the fortunes of the team that has been doing badly in the first four games of the season.
Ndiraya comes at a time the team is going through a difficult period.
The former Ngezi Platinum gaffer knows exactly what is expected of him by the club’s mythical seven million supporters.
Last season, the Mhondoro-Ngezi-based side lost to basement side Bulawayo City; the final straw that saw the ambitious team’s management cut Ndiraya loose with just five premiership games to go, when they were targeting their maiden league title.
“It was a huge gamble on my part, but I told myself this is home — I have to do it,” Ndiraya told Patriot Sport in Harare last week.
Chicken Inn had Joey Antipas and Rahman Gumbo in the last five years.
After leaving Highlanders last season, the Ngezi Platinum coach, Elroy Akbay, has been given a target to win the league this season with Ngezi Platinum Stars.
Daggers are reportedly out for Madinda Ndlovu as Highlanders are limping from one poor result to another.