Three rivals, three styles, one defining trial

PHILLIMON MHLANGA

The task ahead is nothing short of monumental.

Saul Chaminuka has been handed the reins of a fragmented, low-on-confidence Dynamos squad and tasked with engineering one of the most critical turnarounds in the club’s recent history. The Glamour Boys, still reeling from a disappointing start to the 2024 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season, have turned to the veteran tactician in a desperate bid to salvage pride, restore order, and reignite their fading title challenge.

Chaminuka’s appointment comes without sweeping changes to the technical team—an overhaul that signals a serious, if belated, attempt by the Dynamos leadership to confront the crisis head-on.

Dynamos fired coach Lloyd Chigowe on Monday following a string of poor results that have seen the side win once in 11 games.

The new-look bench is already bracing for a brutal trial by fire: a brutal trio of fixtures against CAPS United, Highlanders, and Ngezi Platinum—three of the league’s most formidable sides.

It is a run of matches that could either spark a glorious turnaround or trigger a full-blown implosion.

Dynamos have not merely changed the man at the helm—they’ve reset the entire technical engine.

Alongside Saul Chaminuka, the club has appointed Philemon Mutyakureva as assistant coach.

Also joining the revamped technical team is goalkeepers coach Marlon Jani, a former Motor Action goalkeeper. Of the technical team, which was led by Chigowe, only striker coach Takesure Chinyama and team manager Ronald Sibanda survived the chop.

The club has dubbed this technical team “balanced, experienced, and mission-ready.”

But mission-ready or not, what awaits them is an unforgiving gauntlet.

Chaminuka’s reign begins with a blood-and-thunder Harare Derby against eternal rivals CAPS United.

It’s a fixture that requires no motivation. Form often counts for nothing, but intensity is guaranteed.

Yet for this wounded Dynamos side, form matters—a win could ignite belief, a loss could deepen the crisis.

Following that is a trip to Bulawayo to face Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium. Bosso have been one of the most consistent teams this season and, with their fanatical home support, rarely drop points in front of their own faithful.

It is a venue that has tested the mental and tactical resolve of many visiting coaches. For Chaminuka, it could be the most emotionally charged match of his early tenure.

Then comes Ngezi Platinum—technically gifted, tactically disciplined, and ruthless in transition. Takesure Chiragwi’s side has been the benchmark of consistency in recent seasons.

If Dynamos survive the first two derbies with dignity, this match will reveal whether they can truly claw their way back into the top half of the league—or be outclassed by the modern giants of Zimbabwean football.

“It’s a warzone schedule,” said Robson Zimuto, a staunt Dynamos supporter.

“But sometimes, when your back is against the wall, that’s exactly when you learn how to fight.”

Chaminuka’s biggest battle, however, lies within the dressing room.

The current Dynamos squad is fragmented—low on confidence, riddled with inconsistency, and seemingly bereft of leadership on the pitch. Key players like Emmanuel Jalai , Valentine Kadonzvo, Nomore Chinyerere and Temptation Chiwunga have struggled for rhythm, while injuries and squad rotations have disrupted any semblance of stability.

This lack of cohesion has translated into poor results, static performances, and defensive lapses that have cost the team vital points.

The coaching carousel hasn’t helped either—players have been caught between conflicting systems, often looking tactically disoriented and emotionally drained.

Chaminuka, a no-nonsense tactician, has already hinted at a return to basics.

“You don’t fix a broken team by throwing in complex systems,” he said.

“You fix it by restoring discipline, building unity, and demanding 100% effort from every player, every minute. The fans deserve that.”

And what of the long-suffering fans?

Once the heartbeat of Zimbabwean football, the Dynamos faithful have endured years of underperformance. The terraces, once a cauldron of passion and pride, have lately been subdued, filled with scepticism rather than songs.

“We are tired of slogans and panic appointments,” says Sheunesu Moyo, a fan from Glen View.

“We want real football. Real leadership. And results.”

If Chaminuka and his new team can deliver that—starting with credible performances in the next three matches—they might just pull the fanbase back into full voice.

Dynamos’ problems are deep-rooted. But Chaminuka has the experience, the technical know-how, and now the support staff to turn things around—if given time and space.

His immediate task is not to win the league, but to stabilise the dressing room, define a game plan, and restore the culture of excellence.

The next three matches will offer an unforgiving stage. CAPS United, Highlanders, and Ngezi Platinum—three rivals, three styles, three massive tests.

If he can pass them, he might just begin writing a redemption story.

But fail, and the Glamour Boys might soon be facing a crisis far greater than just a string of poor results.

They might be confronting the painful truth of lost greatness.

The mission is monumental. The margin for error is microscopic.

And now, all eyes are on (Saul) Chaminuka and his new-look Dynamos bench.