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Eddie Chikamhi, Harare Bureau
DYNAMOS legend Memory Mucherahowa has waded into the debate over under fire coach Paulo Jorge Silva and questioned the Portuguese gaffer’s capacity to take the Glamour Boys to The Promised Land.

Mucherahowa urged the Dynamos leadership to take decisive action on the coaching department as a matter urgency, arguing that it was the only way to save the team’s campaign after a poor start to the championship race.

The former Dynamos skipper, who is now based in the United Kingdom, said it was depressing that his former team is losing the plot early into the season following a run of poor results and a series of off-field controversies.

Mucherahowa, who spent his entire career from the juniors to the seniors at Dynamos, argues that he saw a lot in more than 14 years with the Glamour Boys to believe that Silva is not the “real deal”.

The former midfielder said DeMbare could be headed for disaster this year if the problems are not addressed on time.

He also questioned the club management’s decision not to renew former coach Callisto Pasuwa’s contract which expired at the end of 2014 after winning four titles on the trot.

Mucherahowa also reckoned that Kenny Mubaiwa’s executive made a rash decision to remove Tonderayi Ndiraya last year after the team finished in second place in the title race.

He was highly critical in his assessment of Silva  and the poor run Dynamos have undergone during his short stint.

Mucherahowa yesterday took to his Facebook wall to express his worry with the scenario at Dynamos.

“Five games – one win. Slow start is it or it’s just that the team is going through transition? Pasuwa was fired for what reason? (David) Mandigora was given a contract based on winning. (Tonderai) Ndiraya was not given a chance.

“I am not talking on behalf of the previous coaches who lost their jobs but rather as a former captain and moreso a supporter of Dynamos FC. We have seen previous coaches going for one reason or another but WHY WHY WHY Mr president (Kenny Mubaiwa)? why are you letting the club carry on in this downward spiral?

“What are the targets for Silva if not to win games? Does he have immunity by virtue of his contract or clauses in it? We the supporters are concerned about the team’s current showing.

“Silva seems to only be good at just picking fights and blaming others for his failure instead of addressing the team’s form, points.

“I know you enough president sir (sic). I know you are like everyone who supports Dynamos. We are not happy with the current slump. If he was managing one of your businesses with this failure I am sure he would have been sacked by now.

“True to form you have dismissed previous managers/coaches for such ‘failures’. That’s why it baffles me that Silva is still in charge despite his clear lack of direction to steer us out this predicament. What is so special about him?

“If this situation does not change then the whole board and executive is letting the club and its supporters down,” posted Mucherahowa.

Silva has been under the spotlight ever since he was given a three-match ultimatum by the Dynamos executive to collect nine points and save his job.

However, the Portuguese coach has failed to meet the target after getting only four points following last weekend’s goalless draw at Hwange and the 0-1 home defeat to eternal rivals CAPS United.

His only victory was the 2-1 win over struggling newboys Mutare City Rovers. Dynamos, after five games, have one win, two draws and two losses.

They face FC Platinum in their next match at Rufaro this Sunday.

Silva, who will be hoping to ease the pressure by winning at home, yesterday continued with the preparations as he took his charges through their paces.

Despite social media being awash with claims that Silva had been shown the door and replaced by his assistant Lloyd Mutasa, Dynamos secretary-general Webster Chikengezha yesterday confirmed the expatriate coach is still in charge and “the club will make an important announcement early next week on his future”.

He said the executive has already made a decision but would not disclose it since the president, Mubaiwa, is out of town.

“We have reached a certain decision already but we can’t reveal it right now without first talking to the president.

“So, there are no changes to our technical team, contrary to social media reports. Silva will be in charge in the match against FC Platinum but then Monday or Tuesday we are going to make an announcement.

“We have to be rational always. As the leadership we believe every decision we make will be in the best interest of the club. So, we are not going to be pushed to make rash pronouncements. I hope everyone in the DeMbare family will support the decision that we have come up with,” said Chikengezha.

“What I also want to make clear is that there is no clause in the coach’s contract that says we will pay him US$50 000 if we fire him before the end of his contract. There is nothing like that, if anything, there are a number of exit clauses which we can invoke if we feel he is not meeting his obligations.”

The Herald yesterday had exclusive access to the contract which is clearly “performance-based.” It is also states that Silva’s performance will be reviewed after every eight games.

However, there are no specific targets which makes it tricky for the Glamour Boys to wake up and fire the coach as it says his mandate is to win the league championship and at least two major cup competitions.

Artcicle 5 (b) of the contract states that “performance measurement is winning the league championship and winning at least two major knockout tournaments. Performance will be measured after every eight games. Should the results indicate that we will not be able to achieve our set targets, employment maybe terminated with mutual consent”.

It goes further to state that he has to qualify for the mini-league phase of the CAF Champions League 2017 edition.

Dynamos can also use part of Article 7 which reads: “The club may terminate this contract without giving 90 days written notice on the ground of breach of agreement, gross misconduct on part of the coach or any other acts of misconduct as stipulated in the code of conduct.

“For avoidance of doubt, the club may summarily cancel on the said grounds. The contract can be terminated when the executive feels the said targets may not be achieved.”

Silva could, however, argue that with 25 matches more to play in the league, it could be too premature to conclude that in just five games he has missed the target to win the champiionship.

The major knock-out tournaments such as the Chibuku Super Cup and the One Wallet Cup are also still to be contested for.

Fixtures
Tomorrow: Chicken Inn v Triangle (Luveve)

Saturday: How Mine v CAPS United (Luveve), Harare City v Tsholotsho (Rufaro), Ngezi Platinum Stars v Highlanders (Baobab), ZPC Kariba v Mutare City Rovers (Nyamhunga)

Sunday: Border Strikers v Hwange (Maglas), Bulawayo City v Chapungu (Barbourfields), Dynamos v FC Platinum (Rufaro)