Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. THE unthinkable is happening.
Dynamos Football Club, a titan of Zimbabwean football, a name whispered with reverence and pride, is staring down the barrel of relegation.
With a paltry 15 points from 19 matches, the 21-time league champions sit adrift in 17th place, their illustrious history seemingly counting for nothing.
This is not just a season gone wrong; it’s the culmination of years of deliberate sabotage and one man, Bernard Mariott, is solely responsible for this monumental demise.
Mariott’s ownership has been a masterclass in mismanagement and a testament to the destructive power of unchecked arrogance.
He has systematically dismantled every pillar of this once-great institution.
Instead of fostering growth and embracing expertise, Mariott has, by all accounts, actively pushed away anyone with a genuine desire to help the club.
Former players, corporate benefactors and even the loyal fan base — all have been alienated by an owner seemingly more interested in exercising absolute control than in securing the club’s future.
On January 31, 2025, Harare magistrate Yeukai Dzuda ruled in favour of Bernard Marriot Lusengo, clearing him of fraud charges related to his acquisition of 51% shareholding in Dynamos.
The case had dragged on for over three years, with two key complainants — David George and Ernest Kamba — passing away before the verdict.
Perhaps this strengthened his arrogance, but the club is still on fire and soon there could be no club to talk about.
The club’s current financial paralysis, leading to demotivated players and the humiliating withdrawal from this year’s Caf Confederation Cup, is a direct consequence of Marriot’s disastrous leadership.
The potential prize money from continental success, a crucial lifeline, was squandered, and now the club is haemorrhaging, unable to motivate the very players tasked with saving its skin.
If truth be told, talent is there, but without proper remuneration and a functional environment, it’s akin to a high-performance engine starved of fuel.
The solution is glaringly obvious, yet seemingly unattainable under Marriot’s stewardship — a united front.
A crisis meeting involving all stakeholders — former players, corporate partners like Sakunda Holdings and the long-suffering fans — is the only way out.
But for this to happen, Marriot must abandon his destructive pride and actively seek help.
His refusal to engage with those who truly have Dynamos at heart is stubbornness of the worst order, which poses a serious threat to the existence of the club.
Fan boycotts, a desperate cry for change, reflect the profound disconnect between the club’s ownership and its lifeblood.
These are not just disgruntled supporters; they are the very essence of Dynamos, the vibrant force that once propelled the team to glory.
Their grievances must be heard and their passion must be re-ignited, but this can only happen if Marriot steps aside or fundamentally alters his approach.
The relegation of Dynamos is not just a blow to its loyal supporters; it’s a devastating loss for the entire Zimbabwean football landscape.
Alongside Highlanders and Caps United, Dynamos form the very backbone of the Premier Soccer League, igniting fierce rivalries and drawing massive crowds.
Their absence from the top flight will leave a huge void that cannot be filled, stripping the league of its most iconic battles and diminishing its overall appeal.
With just 14 matches left and the fate of the abandoned FC Platinum game hanging in the balance, a miraculous escape might still be possible.
But this “Great Escape” hinges entirely on one man’s willingness to relinquish control and acknowledge his failures.
Bernard Marriot holds the destiny of Dynamos in his hands.
Will he finally prioritise the club’s survival over his misguided pride or will he be remembered as the man who orchestrated the unthinkable demise of a Zimbabwean football legends?
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