Dynamos Football Club Supporters’ Association chapters converged in Chegutu over the weekend to speak against hooliganism and violence in stadiums as well as plan for the 2018 season.
By Lovejoy Mutongwiza and Munashe Chokodza
Dembare, the biggest club in the country by fan base has in the past been found wanting with regards to violence and hooliganism, losing lots of money in fines from the Premier Soccer League.
However, Chairpersons of supporters associations on Saturday vowed to work out solutions that will end the bad club tag an re-brand the club as the true ambassador of Zimbabwe football.
In a interview with 263Chat, Dynamos Secretary General Webster Marechera, challenged the chairpersons to educate the fans when the league starts, on the implication of violence and hooliganism .
“In the up coming season we appealing to all out supporters to minimize violence so that our club keeps money rather than paying for charges of violence
The club has in the past lost a lot of money while paying fines to the PSL, that money can be channeled towards the development of the club. So we want our fans to know that if they engage in violence, they are not only tarnishing the reputation of the club but killing the club financially” said Marechera.
Dynamos Treasure General, Francis Madzinga, appealed to the fans to be at their best behavior as the club does not have enough money in their coffers to be paying the heavy fines that come with rowdy behaviors.
Last season, a game between Highlanders and Dynamos at Babourfileds had to be called off after crowd trouble.
Although Bosso were found guilty , Dembare fans played a part in the skirmish.
Another match pitting the Mbare based side and Ngezi Platinum, was halted after former champions’ fans threw missiles on the pitch while Dynamos were trailing 2-0.
Meanwhile, guest speaker at the event Chegutu West Member of Parliament ,Dexter Nduna ,urged the Dynamos executive to engage its former players who have the institutional memory to spearhead the club’s junior policy.
He said it is a pity that most of Dynamos’ former players are languishing due to lack of appreciation from the club.
Dr Esther Mawere, Chegutu Chapter Chairperson,who hosted the meeting and is the only female chairperson of the supporters’ association, paid homage to the club and the association for allowing her to be part of the Dembare family.
“Its an honor being part of the team and to host the chairpersons is a dream come true. In an avid supporter of the club and it feels good to be helping the team in any way possible,”
She also denounced violence in stadiums saying it affects the game as it is supposed to be a family outing.
Dynamos have since started preparations for the 2018 season with Marechera dismissing rumors of an exodus of players from the Harare giants’ dressing room.
He said so far the club has retained 90% of its players from last season.
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