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Eddie Chikamhi, Harare Bureau
GIANTS Dynamos should be doing a lot of soul-searching as they begin their pre-season with trials at the Motor Action Sports Club this week.

DeMbare announced they will open gates to their training ground for new players to try their luck with the country’s most successful club.

Their coach Lloyd Mutasa is expected to welcome hordes of aspiring talents to start the groundwork for 2017 after the Harare giants had lost some of their key players during the off-season break.

It has become common for Dynamos to lose key players to the other teams every year because they cannot compete on the market. And it has almost become acceptable to the leadership at the club as the Glamour Boys have been holding trials regularly for the past few years.

But something is definitely not right for a big club like Dynamos to go this route. Dynamos should be unveiling some of the best players from home and outside the borders.

DeMbare, who have often admitted they are finding it difficult to cope with the big money being dangled by the majority of corporate-owned teams in the league, are not likely to be heavily involved on the market during the off-season despite losing some of their key players.

With their financial woes well documented especially following the expiry of their sponsorship deal with BancABC, the former champions do not find it within their means to compete against their peers for the big name players.

DeMbare, who have struggled to keep afloat under the tough economic environment, have so far lost key players such as Soccer Star of the Year finalist Godknows Murwira and midfielder Brett Amidu to Ngezi Platinum Stars and FC Platinum.

Midfielder Dominic Mukandi has also moved to Chibuku Super Cup winners Ngezi Platinum Stars who will be playing in the Caf Confederation Cup this year.

DeMbare are also battling to retain other key players such as Ocean Mushure and Warriors goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva whose contracts have terminated.

Dynamos are no longer the team of choice as they used to be as they can no longer attract the big names in the domestic league.

The notion of Dynamos having to rely on trials to beef up their stocks almost every season contradicts their stature as one of the oldest and most successful clubs in the country. DeMbare, who had their 50th anniversary three years ago, should be setting the pace in all facets of development.

For a brand that has the potential to generate huge revenue DeMbare do not have anything to show for all their years of existence and successes.

They are no longer the club of choice for local players who can now choose to go to newly formed clubs like FC Platinum, Harare City or Ngezi Platinum Stars who only have one year in the Premiership.

Former captain Memory Mucherahowa reckoned Dynamos was always the dream club for any player but it is no longer attractive. Commenting on his Facebook post, Mucherahowa wrote:

“This is the first time yandaona maplayers achitiza kubva ku Dynamos achienda kuma small teams. Every player in Zim I mean every player in our days used to love to play for Dynamos now it’s opposite (sic),” said Mucherahowa.

Football analysts believe Dynamos should be thriving if they had sound management. With the huge fan base that they command, “corporates should be tripping over each other to be associated with the brand”.

Although the economy has not been favourable for Zimbabwe, the Glamour Boys for all their experiences and successes should be competing with regional giants like Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates in terms of material fortune.

The club has since discarded junior development because of lack of resources and the decision has come back to haunt them.

They cannot develop their own players and they cannot buy quality because of the competition on the market.

The Harare giants, who promised two years ago to open shops to sell their own regalia as part of their marketing strategy, continue to lose potential revenue through the sale of unlicenced replicas by unofficial vendors.