Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THERE was once a time when every football player’s dream was to join either Dynamos, Highlanders or CAPS United.
Fact!
The three football institutions were the be all and end all of Zimbabwe football.
The traditional giants of Zimbabwe football were an epitome of football excellence as their exceptional performance was also reflected by the results on the field of play.
While Highlanders and Dynamos generally dominated the league championship, CAPS United personalised most cup competitions, no wonder the moniker – Cup Kings.
After all, numbers don’t lie.
Dynamos have won the league title a massive 21 times, and have been runners-up nine times, while their nemesis, Highlanders, have bagged the coveted title seven times and were runners-up on eight occasions.
CAPS United have won the league title five time and ended as runners up on three occasions.
Behold the new!
In recent years, Zimbabwe has seen the emergence of new teams that have dominated the top flight league and relegated the so-called traditional giants to playing second fiddle.
Around 2009 and 2010 it was Gunners and Motor Action, respectively, and in recent years, FC Platinum emerged to win the title in four consecutive seasons.
In 2023, it was Ngezi Platinum that laboured long and hard to earn the Premiership title, before Simba Bhora came from nowhere last year to clinch the coveted football accolade.
This year, the odds are heavily staked against the traditional giants, while new boys, Scotland FC are among the favourites, if not the highly tipped outfit to win the league, if events on the off season transfer market are anything to go by.
As if that was enough, on Tuesday Warriors coach, Micheal Nees announced the squad to face Nigeria for the all-important World Cup qualifier, and in that squad Dynamos is the only team among the big three with a player – Emmanuel Jalai – in the squad, while Scotland supplied six players – Godknows Murwira, Peter Muduhwa, Khama Billiat, Mthokozisi Masebe, Tymon Machope and Walter Musona.
For the record, MWOS have goalkeeper, Martin Mapisa in that squad, while CAPS United and Highlanders have none. This is just how deep the mighty have fallen from grace.
Veteran gaffer, Rodwell Dhlakama reckons that the traditional giants have gone through a period of stagnation.
Dhlakama cited complacency, lack on investment, player drain and poor management as some of the key factors that resulted in a downturn of the traditional giants’ dip in form.
“The evident stagnation of traditional Zimbabwean football powerhouses like Dynamos, Highlanders, and Caps United can be attributed to several factors.
Lack of Investment is one of them.
Unlike newcomers like Simba Bhora, Scotland and Manica Diamonds, these traditional giants may not have received sufficient investment to upgrade their infrastructure, training facilities, and player salaries.
“It also has more to do with poor management. Ineffective management and leadership can lead to stagnation. This includes poor decision-making, inadequate planning, and lack of vision for the team’s future. The big three also appear to have failed to adapt. The football landscape is constantly evolving, with new teams and coaches bringing fresh ideas and strategies. Traditional teams may struggle to adapt to these changes, leading to stagnation.
“We cannot also rule out player drain. Top players from traditional teams may be lured away by better offers from newer teams or foreign leagues, weakening the team’s overall strength. Complacency is also a factor. After years of dominance, traditional teams may become complacent, leading to a lack of motivation and drive to succeed,” said the former Green Fuel FC coach.
The former Ngezi Platinum coach said the emerging teams are also pouring in a lot of resources in their clubs.
He said hunger for success is also a factor that inspired the new dominant clubs.
“On the other hand, newcomers like Simba Bhora, Manica Diamonds, Ngezi, FC Platinum, and Scotland have been able to make a significant impact due to fresh perspectives on running their clubs.
“New teams often bring a fresh perspective, new ideas, and innovative strategies that can disrupt the status quo. Investment and resources are also put in. New teams may have access to more resources, including financial backing, better infrastructure, and top coaching talent.
“Players turning for the new clubs have shown hunger for success. New teams often attract hungry, ambitious players looking to make a name for themselves, leading to a strong work ethic and desire to succeed.
“These factors combined have enabled newcomers to shake up the Zimbabwean football landscape, pushing traditional powerhouses to re-evaluate their strategies and adapt to the changing times,” said Dhlakama.
