DYNAMOS players yesterday boycotted training over unpaid winning bonuses as their executive was making frantic efforts to get financial assistance for the trip for their do-or-die Caf Confederations Cup first round, second leg soccer match against King Faysal of Ghana in Kumasi this weekend.
Sources at Dynamos said the players stayed away from training yesterday afternoon in protest over overdue winning bonuses in their previous matches against Kwekwe Cables in a league match and Highlanders in last Sundays Independence Trophy final.
No comment could be obtained from Dynamos interim treasurer, Victor Nyaumwe, at the time of going to press late last night.
But the players latest action was a slap in the face of the Dynamos interim committee who were yesterday running around trying to raise $125 million for their trip to Ghana.
The club has said if they dont get any outside assistance in raising that money they were unlikely to fulfil their second leg match against King Faysal.
"Our trip to Ghana is highly unlikely unless we get some form of assistance because the entire trip will cost us $205 million and as it stands we are short of $125 million," said club interim chairman Ignatius Pamire.
Pamire was concerned about the rate at which they were getting the foreign currency and said that it was severely putting a strain on their financial resources.
"We would be happy to get a rate of $824 (per US$1) and this would make a world of difference," said Pamire.
"This is the same rate that was given to the cricket people and we would be very happy if such kind of assistance is extended to us as well," added Dynamos vice-interim chairman Philip Mugadza.
Another Premiership side Amazulu are facing the same financial problems and have since written to Zifa to assist both clubs in facilitating the provision of a credit facility from Air Zimbabwe to transport the two teams to Angola and Ghana on the same chartered flight.
Amazulu are scheduled to meet Petro Athletico of Angola in the Champions League first round, return match in Luanda on Sunday.
"We, Amazulu have been in discussion with Dynamos and have both noted that we are facing the same plight of financial constraints regarding the foreign currency required to travel to Luanda, Angola, and to Accra, Ghana, for our respective international fixtures.
"We are both in agreement that the assistance required is to travel in the form of a chartered Air Zimbabwe flight, taking Amazulu to Luanda and proceed with Dynamos to Ghana. This is our considered view to avoid the strain of raising the foreign currency," read part of the letter Amazulu recently wrote to Zifa chief executive Edgar Rogers .
Amazulu and Dynamos agreed that the cost will be paid by both clubs over an agreed period and will be apportioned proportionately between them.
But Pamire noted that even if they got such a facility they would still need to work with the $824 per US$1 rate in order to lessen the financial burden for both clubs when they repay the money.
"The alternative we have for us to make the trip is that if we can get the Air Zimbabwe facility that we would pay afterwards, we would appreciate it in conjunction with the $824 rate so that each club would have to repay less money.
"The facility of the flight alone would not cover other expenses like player bonuses, appearance fees and other costs," said Pamire.
Dynamos have had difficulties meeting the costs of participating in this tournament. The Glamour Boys have not made any profits and they made a loss of $23 million despite netting $62 million from the first leg match against King Faysal two weeks ago.
Most of the money was chewed up in expenses that saw the Harare giants forking out $30 million for accommodating the Ghanaians, $45 million to match officials, almost $10 million in player bonuses and appearance fees and about $6 million in the clubs camping costs.
"We are supposed to leave the country on Thursday (tomorrow) because we are scheduled to play the match on Saturday and if we fail to fulfil the fixture, the cost of the fine is more than the cost of the trip," said a concerned Pamire.
Dynamos will face a fine of US$50 000 that will be meted out on Zifa and the football association will then pass it on the cost to the club, if they do not fulfil the fixture.
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