| Full name | Dynamos Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | DeMbare, The Glamour Boys | ||
| Founded | 1963[1][2] | ||
| Ground | Rufaro Stadium Harare, Zimbabwe (Capacity: 35,000[3]) |
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| Chairman | Kenny Mubaiwa [4] | ||
| Head Coach | Callisto Pasuwa | ||
| League | Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League | ||
| 2010 | 2nd | ||
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Dynamos Football Club (also referred to simply as Dynamos, or, outside of Zimbabwe, as Dynamos Harare or Zimbabwe Dynamos[5]) is a Zimbabwean professional football club based since 1963 at Rufaro Stadium, Mbare, Harare. The team is contesting Zimbabwe's top-tier Premier Soccer League during the 2010 season. Originally founded in 1963 after a merger between two lesser teams in Mbare, Harare Township, Rhodesia, and by the recognition of the country's independence as Zimbabwe in 1980 was the country's most successful team, having won six national titles.
Following Zimbabwe's independence, Dynamos began to compete in the African Cup of Champions Clubs in 1981 as Zimbabwean champions. Dynamos reached the quarter-finals at the first attempt. This was matched in 1984 and 1987, then topped in 1998: Dynamos reached the final before losing 4–2 on aggregate to Ivorian champions ASEC Mimosas. Dynamos also reached the semi-finals in 2008, but despite defeating ASEC earlier in the tournament, were overcome by Coton Sport of Cameroon. Dynamos have won a record 18 league titles and 8 Cups of Zimbabwe, also a record. Known as DeMbare or the Glamour Boys, the side is also Zimbabwe's most popular, boasting "seven million" supporters.
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Dynamos Football Club was founded in 1963.[1] The team's founder, Sam Dauya, was inspired to form a club for local black players in Salisbury (now Harare) by the establishment of an exclusively white club the previous year and the recent disbanding of two local black teams, Salisbury City and Salisbury United.[2][6] To this end, Dauya prepared an emblem and wrote a club constitution.[2] Former City and United players were then organised by Dauya into Dynamos, a combined team that, during its first year in existence, won the national championship ahead of white-dominated Salisbury Callies.[1] Dynamos became the first black team to consistently challenge the predominantly white Rhodesia National Football League, winning successive championships in 1965 and 1966 before renaming itself Dynamos Football Club during the late 1960s.[1] A key player of the original Dynamos team was Patrick Dzvene, who became the first black Rhodesian to play outside his homeland in 1964 when he joined Zambian club Ndola United.[7] Known as "Amato the Devil" or the "midfield magician",[7] he was subsequently targeted by two English clubs, Arsenal and Aston Villa; however, Ndola refused to sell him.[6]
Dynamos acquired their nickname, the Glamour Boys, through their early style of playing: Dynamos played "carpet soccer" – football based around passes along the ground – and based their game around "entertainment and winning, attacking football".[6] The club won three more domestic titles before the replacement of the Rhodesia National Football League with the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League in 1980, and, during that year, became the first champions of Zimbabwe. Because of the recognition of Zimbabwe's independence following the end of Rhodesia (latterly Zimbabwe Rhodesia), Zimbabwean clubs were, from 1981, allowed to contest continental competitions for the first time. As Zimbabwean champions, the side therefore entered the African Cup of Champions Clubs for the first time in 1981. Dynamos won their first match in the Cup of Champions Clubs 5–0, and, as of 2010, have never lost a first-round match in continental competition. The team reached the quarter-finals during their first season in the tournament, an achievement that was matched twice more during the 1980s – in 1984 and 1987. Meanwhile, the team dominated the Zimbabwean league, winning six out of the first seven editions of the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League, including the first four. Dynamos also clinched the Cup of Zimbabwe in 1985, 1986 and 1989 as well as the 1983 Zimbabwean Independence Trophy.
The team claimed four more Zimbabwean titles during the 1990s, as well as a further Cup of Zimbabwe and three more Independence Trophies. Following the 1997 league win – the club's 17th overall – Dynamos embarked on a run in the 1998 CAF Champions League that was ended only in the final by a 4–2 aggregate defeat by ASEC Mimosas, champions of the Côte d'Ivoire. After a barren start to the 2000s during which the side did not win a single title or Cup of Zimbabwe, Dynamos won their sixth Double in 2007, and, as a result of winning the Zimbabwean title, qualified once more for the Champions League. Despite defeating ASEC earlier in the tournament, Dynamos were overcome by Coton Sport of Cameroon in the semi-finals.
Dynamos are known primarily by two nicknames: DeMbare or the Glamour Boys. DeMbare refers to the club's location and origins. Some sources have linked this to Charles Mabika. while the Glamour Boys label has its roots in the elaborate and entertaining "carpet soccer" style of play exhibited by the team during its early years.[6]
The club's colours are blue and white.[3]
The club has been based at Rufaro Stadium, Mbare, for its most of its history but temporarily used the National Sports Stadium for a few years in the late 90s. The Stadium was upgraded in 1994, in preparation for the all Africa games that Zimbabwe hosted the following year. The 35,000 capacity multi-purpose ground takes its name from the Shona word for "happiness". The stands at Rufaro are very close to the pitch, and this results in an intimidating atmosphere for opposing teams: Dynamos supporters, especially those in the Vietnam stand, are notoriously enthusiastic.[3]
Dynamos are by far the most popular club in Zimbabwe;[5] indeed, if the club's estimated fan-base of "seven million support[ers]" is accurate,[4] the team is favoured by over half of the country's population.[8]
The side's main rivals are Harare-based CAPS United and Bulawayo's Highlanders. Dynamos history with Caps united shows Dynamos to be the weaker side. On the other hand Dynamos have had the better days while facing highlanders. In both these rivalries, these teams need no motivation. Because of the bragging rights at stake (far more important than the price money to the supporters) Both players and fans give their best. Cursing out the opposition, breaking off into fights. Several people have died at these matches, yet millions still come to root for their team.
The news papers of the country the Herald and the Chronicle, spice up this rivalry by giving colorful names to the derbies. the game caps (known as the battle for the cities) and highlanders (battle for Zimbabwe). Caps united fans and highlanders fans are united in their hatred of Dynamos, calling them dembudzi (a corruption of dembare comparing them to goats). A typical Caps or Highlanders fan will rather support a foreign team they do not know than root for Dynamos. Dynamos fans also return the favor when these teams play other opponents.
Dynamos ironically would rather favor highlanders than caps united. this shows that the hatred between these clubs is deep. while both are based in Harare they can not stomach each other. these are like brothers vowed to hate each other to death.
Highlanders fans on the other hand, only view everything Dembare as evil. they can embrace caps easily when such a thing is convenient, but dynamos is an unpalatable thought to their minds. This is worsened by the strong tribal overtones in these teams. Forexample Dynamos have a website that can accept mail in English, Shona, Portuguese and other languages but not Ndebele, despite having Ndeble players. Dynamos has often beefed up its squad by poaching highlanders players, like Lovemore Ncube, Makwinji Soma-Phiri, Washington Arubi and recently tried to purchase old horse Peter Ndlovu but the deal fell through at the last minute. Highlanders have also bought some players from Dynamos, The most recent being Givemore Manuela, but his star quickly faded. Violence has especially erupted in Bulawayo where the Highlanders fans do not accept defeat to Dynamos. They will blame the referee, blame their coach anything but the thought that maybe Dynamos will always be better than them. Conspiracy theories abound among the Bosso and Caps faithfuls that Dynamos is protected by politicians. When Dynamos is facing elimination from the top flight there is always a change of rules to accommodate them or support their bid to survive relegation.
Dynamos fans look forward to matches with Caps and Highlanders, believing that their team will lend a victory everytime. When Dynamos are on song, their fans will sing about wanting to play Higlanders "Tika tambe tambe tode Highlander
ah he tode highlander"
meaning everytime we play we want it to be highlanders. the implication being we are not afraid of them, we will play them anytime. So far History is on Dynamos' side.
| Honour | Year(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| Rhodesia National Football League | Champions | 1963, 1965, 1966, 1970, 1976, 1978 |
| Cup of Rhodesia | Winners | 1976 |
| Honour | Year(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League | Champions | 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2007, 2011 |
| Runners-up | 1987, 1988, 1996, 1999, 2008, 2009, 2010 | |
| Cup of Zimbabwe | Winners | 1985, 1988, 1989, 1996, 2007 |
| Zimbabwean Independence Trophy | Winners | 1983, 1990, 1995, 1998, 2004, 2010 |
| Zimbabwean Charity Shield | Winners | 2002 |
| Mbada Diamonds Cup | Winners | 2011 |
| Honour | Year(s) | |
| African Cup of Champions Clubs / CAF Champions League | Runners-up | 1998 |
| Semi-Finalists | 2008 | |
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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