Dynamos executive divided as player strike enters day 3

Sport
THE Dynamos executive is divided on how to deal with the crisis at the club following an industrial action which has disrupted operations since Tuesday.

THE Dynamos executive is divided on how to deal with the crisis at the club following an industrial action which has disrupted operations since Tuesday.

SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

None of the executive members has addressed the players after they downed tools demanding an increase in draw bonuses and being addressed on other issues to do with their welfare.

Players who spoke to our sister paper NewsDaySport yesterday insisted they would not train until they were addressed on the issue.

They reported for a training session which was scheduled for Gwanzura Stadium at 3pm, but an hour later they had not started, demanding to talk to their bosses first.

The industrial action by the players is threating the Chibuku Super Cup match against Black Rhinos on Sunday. NewsDaySport has gathered that there is a huge division in the club hierarchy which was spilling to players.

If not addressed early, the problems threaten to disrupt the team’s campaign this season. When contacted for a comment on the recent disturbances at the club, club chairman Keni Mubaiwa and secretary-general Webster Chikengezha played a blame game. “This issue is being dealt with by the chairman. He is the one who is speaking on this issue,” Chikengezha said.

Mubaiwa said he would neither comment nor address the players, as that obligation lies sorely with Chikengezha.

“What we have always been doing is that the secretary-general and the treasurer handle these issues, but I don’t know what is happening because I am out of town.

If there are divisions I don’t know them, but what I will do is to sit down with other members of the executive first so that we see where the differences are coming from if they are there. But like I said before, these players should follow procedure and not just rush to go on strike,” he said.

“We were in Bulawayo together, but they didn’t tell me their grievances. If there is a petition, I am waiting for it.

“They can’t go on strike without telling us what their grievances are. Their problem is that they raise issues especially when they beat Highlanders or Caps United.”

A source said Chikengezha had thrown in the towel because he feels he is being undermined by his fellow executives.

The source said every time Chikengezha addressed players and agreed on something with them, everything would be shot down by some of the executive members.

This, the source added, had caused friction between Chikengezha and some players who accuse him of double standards.

“Clearly the executive is divided because Chikengezha who used to come and address the players is now refusing to do so because sometimes what he agrees with the players will not be supported by other members in the executive.

“This has created a problem because no one wants to come and address the players.” a player who spoke on condition of anonymity said.