HARARE - Dynamos players have failed to find common ground with the club’s executive and have resolved to play tomorrow’s Chibuku Super Cup encounter against Black Rhinos under protest.
The players say although they are still owed large sums of monies by the club they agreed to fulfil the match to ‘protect the integrity of the game and save fans from more misery’.
“We don’t want to bring the game into disrepute. Football has to be the winner at the end of the day,” the players said in a damning report addressed to the Dynamos executive led by Kenny Mubaiwa.
The players said they go to great lengths to put their bodies on the line for the blue army’s cause yet they are treated with little respect to the extent of going for months without receiving allowances and bonuses.
The Glamour Boys feel it is only when they strike that their grievances are taken seriously by an executive they feel is divided in addressing their concerns.
The players outlined their grievances in a petition that is likely to open a can of worms at the Glamour Boys.
"1) Divisions amongst the players caused by the executive i.e failure of payments for injured players. 2) players buying their own medication and getting no refunds. 3) Some players getting their dues others are not. 4) Signing on fees we were promised to be paid after the CAPS United game but up to now nothing said (sic) or done,” read the beginning of the petition, adding:
“5) At the same time others are believed to have got theirs so it’s creating tension because other players are feeling less important or less valued. 6) We are not happy with the way we are treated when we play away games by putting our lives at risk at the expense of saving money. Panongopera game hatisisina basa (when the match finishes we are no longer cherished). 7) Bonuses. We are not happy with the way it is being distributed; only those playing are getting paid. We were told $70, but we got $50 without any consultation or communication. 8) Bonuses to be reviewed.”
The players went on to allege that they are still to be paid allowances back dating to last year’s Castle Premiership and Mbada Diamonds Cup matches.
The disgruntled players said they do not even know what they are playing for in the NetOne Supr8r Cup.
“9) Allowances not paid after games, especially Mondays. 10) Camping even when we play small teams. 11) Cup games. We don’t even know what we are playing for, i.e NetOne Cup.12) Why it we have to boycott first for our problems or grievances to be addressed???,” said the players.
“ 13) We don’t want to rely on gate takings anymore. We need our bonuses on time (before) Tuesday whether home or away. 14) We have written too many papers with grievances but no change. 15) As players we feel the executive has no one voice or they are not united,” the petition written by the Dynamos players continued.
“16) Why is it we only see Mr Chikengezha from the executive addressing our grievances but the things that we agree with him are not implemented??? Why??? 17) Who runs the day to day running of the team? Is it the executive or the board? So we know who to ask first whenever we have problems?18) Juniors are owed salaries and signing on fees from last year and up to now nothing has been done towards that. 19) The game that made us champions last year, we won the Black Mambas game has not been paid up to now together with the game against Tripple B in the Mbada Diamonds Cup has not been paid either.
“….so as players we have resolved to play under protest for the fans, sponsors and all stakeholders. We don’t want to bring the game into disrepute. Football has to be the winner. Yours faithfully Dynamos players.”
Today: ZPC Kariba v Harare City (Rimuka), FC Platinum v Bantu (Mandava), Caps United v Chapungu (Rufaro), How Mine v Chicken Inn (Luveve).
Sunday: Dynamos v Black Rhinos (Gwanzura), Highlanders v Shabanie Mine (Luveve), Hwange v Triangle (Colliery), Buffaloes v Chiredzi (Sakubva).