. . . Mandigora on Dynamos
Tinotenda Nyanzira, Sports Reporter
DYNAMOS legend and former coach David ‘Yogi’ Mandigora says the team should recruit players who understand the club’s culture to bring back the lost glory.
The 1980 Soccer Star of the Year believes some of the players that are being recruited have no character to ‘die’ for the badge.
“I believe the club is slowly losing its standards, it is no longer the big brand name we all used to know,” said Yogi.
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Mandigora, who guided the Glamour Boys to win the championship in 2007 and reached the CAF Champions League semis the following year, has challenged the current administration to bring quality players.
DeMbare last won the title in 2014 under Kalisto Pasuwa who won it four years on the trot.
“Some players who are coming to the club are not fit and strong enough to play for Dynamos. I think they do not know how much it means to wear that jersey and being part of the club.
“For us during our playing days it was something special to play for such a big club like Dynamos and it was because we understood the club’s culture.
“In order to understand the club’s culture, players who were coming from the juniors were quite familiar with the club and it was very easy for us to adapt to the club’s system fast,” said Yogi.
He described last year’s recruitment as ‘poor’ and said the club should prioritise junior development.
“The recruitment of players for the past season for me it’s poor because there is no longer proper junior policy. They should have a strong junior policy for future players to come into the ranks.
“So I don’t think the players who have been playing for Dynamos understand the club’s culture and history,” he said.
While he underscores the need to recruit committed players, he also acknowledges that financial muscle is now at play.
“I also think money is a big challenge for the club because they do not have enough funds to buy quality players who will bring trophies.
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“Look at what clubs like FC Platinum are doing, they have money to buy quality players and the results are being seen, three titles in a row.
“Players who have signed for Dynamos for the past seasons end up leaving on a short term because they are not paid well.
“I believe Dynamos will do better this season, they just have to bring in players who are ambitious to win trophies and they should also invest in their juniors,” he said.
Current coach Tonderai Ndiraya has also highlighted last season that most of the players are not Dynamos material.
– HMETRO
