OPEN LETTER TO LUSAKA DYNAMOS FC
Dear Lusaka Dynamos Exco,
I need to start by appreciating the investment you are building in this team. This is good for Zambian football. Only such investment on such a scale could ever break the monopoly on the success enjoyed by Zambia’s richest clubs.
You have already spent colossal sum on players which has been condemned by some people as an inflationary danger for clubs across the country . But if this is aimed at improving Zambian football and you can sustain it, then why blame you.
I could accept the argument if you were artificially building up the club through debt, as that produces a destructive end result; as I have seen that happen. But in your case, the club is in the healthiest position because there is no debt. You have funded it through equity [permanent investment], including the signing of the players. We are made to believe from your responses of allegations of players not getting paid.
I appreciate the argument about having so much money, but believe me you have brought real competition in this country, this is a club, but it is a business too, and in business, you are there to compete. And it’s clear you are striving to build the club the right way, with respect for its heritage, and the fans. We commend you for that.
Okay too much about resources back to football,
Fifth in the Super League and beaten semifinalists in the Barclays Cup. Just a year ago, that would have been the kind of season Lusaka Dynamos fans could only dream about.
Not any longer. Lusaka Dynamos are moving in different circles , while remembering the dark days of the lower division will always be a badge of honor at this club, because the people brought in to run the club have no time for losers.
Patrick Phiri didn’t just lose the top four race and the semi Final. He also lost the comfortable zone to such an extent that sponsors and Directors at the club definitely had to sit him down for a detailed report of why he failed to deliver.
Am aware the man has been told to walk of course without renewing his contract.
Patrick Phiri type of coaches are rarely the finished article, he is a type of coach used to success and without a doubt a good one for Lusaka Dynamos. But he offered no proof that he was learning from his mistakes or that he was prepared to work in tandem with his technical bench. It was difficult to see who was in charge of the team between Fhaty and Phiri. It is that one aspect that could have contributed to losing the race for a top four finish.
I don’t t understand why Lusaka Dynamos failed to break into the top four if you look at the list of players on their books for 2017 season. Not good for Patrick Phiri?
Lusaka Dynamos should have been burning with optimism when the season kicked off. Instead, that game against Power Dynamos at Heroes Stadium which ended 3-3 was just a big statement that this team was no longer that team which always was fighting relegation. I found myself celebrating in full gear at the gold football witnessed across Africa on supersport and without a doubt, a lot thought, a new giant had arisen in Zambian football.
Deep in the Season Patrick in his calm and collected way of doing things was giving off vibes about the team’s failure to win games after match days and he always hoped for the next game.
So then it’s justifiable that the man has been told to move .
Once again Lusaka Dynamos were drawn in the Barclays Cup in the quarter finals against Kabwe Youth Soccer Academy and that was a given opportunity for the team bugging silverware in that special season of 2017.
Marvin Jere with lone goal sent Lusaka Dynamos to the semifinals. But the way they surrendered a good start against Zanaco in the semifinal was indicative of a campaign in which they failed to get what was perhaps the bright chance of silverware and ultimately didn’t even qualify to the final where Napsa Stars were waiting.
And there was also an inability to get other players scoring the volume of goals that were being delivered by Chris Mugalu, their best player of the season. Lusaka Dynamos would have been lethal had two or more players followed the path of Mugalu in scoring goals.
In the 2017 season, Patrick delivered the best times in the history of the team in the Super League. Important victories along the way and very difficult to beat against big sides. A win away at Nkana, Zesco, Zanaco and many more will be memories that Lusaka Dynamos fans will be wondering why they failed to break through into the top four if they look at the teams they got good points from.
There is no sentiment in the upper echelons of Lusaka Dynamos. He had to deliver and am not surprised that he is shown the door before the start of the 2018 season.
Failure to break into the top four when everything looked going their way is the biggest low point. Losing the Barclays Cup Semi Final to Zanaco after playing so well will be the biggest regret.
This team has to deliver, they have learnt their trade here and they know what to do. Only the best is good enough: Lusaka Dynamos will need to win the Super League trophy if next season is to be judged a success.
The future coach and of course players should come under scrutiny because they are paid big money to get the big decisions right.
The gray area of this team is the continued allegation by players who said they don’t get paid and that is one thing that the media team of this club should strive to correct otherwise how can all players leaving be citing the same reason. It is either the players are not honest or the club is struggling to consistently pay the players.
Focus on 2018 league is on, and the team has not bought a lot of players because of course they have a big squad. They have to name a coach and Iit is becoming clear that they have settled for Dan Kabwe who takes over from Patrick and it’s another learning phase for Lwarning phase for the team under Kabwe. We will wait.
They need to do this soonest and start preparing for the season, otherwise with further delay, it will be another season so far yet too near.
On the experience of last season, Lusaka Dynamos has a lot to do to wrestle teams like Zanaco and Zesco United for the title…. The realistic objective again on the 2018 season will be top four and not the title.
LUSAKA DYNAMOS WILL COME BACK STRONG…BUT THE TITLE STILL LOOKS A BRIDGE TOO FAR.
Bwezani Mbewe
