The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
DYNAMOS pair of Ralph Kawondera and Trevor Mavhunga completed their move to Mutare Premiership outfit, Manica Diamonds as part of the Gem Boys’ overhaul that has seen the club recruiting nine new players so far.
Mavhunga, who was among Dynamos’ standout players in the previous campaign, left the Harare giants after refusing to ink a new deal and DeMbare is expected to announce new signings soon as they beef up their squad ahead of the new season which starts next month.
Arguably the country’s best supported club, Dynamos recently announced that they were parting ways with 13 players ahead of the new season.
The Glamour Boys have released a statement confirming the release of captain, Patson Jaure, whose contract was not renewed when it expired, Godknows Murwira, Keith Murera, Kawondera, Ghanaian, Sylvester Appiah, Cameroonian striker, Albert Eonde and Nigerian, Alex Orotomol among other players.
Three youngsters — Chipinge-born Luke Musikiri, Claivert Tshuma and Stephen Chatikobo — were sent back to Prince Edward Academy.
Although the Gem Boys finally missed out on Perfect Chikwende’s signature who is understood to have joined champions, FC Platinum, the Jairos Tapera-coached side have made strides to beef up their squad and assemble a squad that is expected to compete favourably in the 2023 Castle Lager Premiership season.
With the Dynamos duo of Kawondera and Mavhunga already in their books, Tapera has gone further to preside over the acquisition of a total of nine new players that include Triangle quintet, Gerald Bhero, Kelvion Gwao, Donald Ngoma Godfrey Chisung and Tawanda Chisi as well as the Eastern Region Division One player of the year, Tedious Baye who was with Green Fuels last season.
Panashe Mutasa, who was signed from relegated Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services side, Tenax, completes the list of players who have now committed themselves through pen and paper to play for Manica Diamonds.
Tapera conceded that he will be dealing with a completely new team and it will require adequate off-season preparations for the players to gel into a competitive unit.
“When you add more than four players into a team, that means you need time for them to gel. There is need for remodelling, the moves, the culture and everything. In fact, the players need time to become a team and understand each other.
“I have no doubt that if we get the time to prepare well in our preseason camp, we will be ready to give our competitors a good run for their money,” said Tapera.
Asked about his ambitions in the 2023 Castle Lager Premiership season with Manica Diamonds, Tapera did not commit himself to attaining any position on the log standings, come the end of the season.
He said he just wants his team to be a force to reckon with.
“I think we cannot say which position exactly we want to attain by the end of the season. Every team wants to win the title, but it all goes down to the team that prepares well and has the necessary support throughout the season.
“We now have teams that have beefed up and have showed that they are more organised than before. Dynamos, for example, have signed more than 12 players and we have FC platinum that have always been organised and professional in their approach.
“We also have Highlanders who have been strengthening their team. In short, many teams have been showing the determination to do better this coming season, so I am expecting competitive matches. All we want is to ensure that we compete favourably as a unit,” said the former Black Rhinos team manager.
