Dynamos F.C.


Dynamos Football Club is a Zimbabwean professional football club based since 1963 at Rufaro Stadium, Mbare, Harare. The team currently participates in Zimbabwe's top-tier, the Premier Soccer League. Founded in 1963 after a merger between two lesser teams in Mbare, Harare Township, Rhodesia, the side quickly became one of the strongest in the Rhodesian league, and by the recognition of the country's independence as Zimbabwe in 1980 had become the country's most successful team, having won six national titles. Dynamos have won a record 22 league titles and 16 cup titles.

History

Dynamos Football Club was founded in 1963. The team's founder, Sam Dauya, was inspired to form a club for local black players in Salisbury 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. To this end, Dauya prepared an emblem and wrote a club constitution. 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. Dynamos became the first black team to consistently challenge the predominantly white Rhodesia National Football League, winning successive championships in 1965 and 1966. 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. Known as "Amato the Devil" or the "midfield magician", he was subsequently targeted by two English clubs, Arsenal and Aston Villa; however, Ndola refused to sell him.
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". 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, 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.

Identity

Dynamos are known primarily by their nicknames: DeMbare, Chazunguza, 7 million 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.
The club's colours are blue and white.

Stadium

Dynamos FC have no Stadium of their own. The club relies on rented City Harare Council stadiums.

Honours and achievements

Domestic honours

Pre-independence (pre-1980)

Post-independence (post-1980)

Performance in continental competitions

n clubs were barred from African continental competitions as the Rhodesia Football Association was not a member of the CAF. The newly renamed Zimbabwe Football Association was admitted to the CAF following Zimbabwe's independence in 1980, allowing its member clubs to enter continental competitions starting from the 1981 season.
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 reached the CAF Champions League semi-finals in 2008, but despite defeating ASEC earlier in the tournament, were overcome by Coton Sport of Cameroon.
Continental football started for Dynamos in the 1981 African Cup of Champions Clubs where they reached the quarter-final stage. They beat Linare and Shooting Stars before being eliminated by JE Tizi-Ouzou. Dynamos did not participate in the 2015 CAF Champions League due to a lack of sponsorship.

Controversy

Dynamos FC have long been accused of benefiting from biased officiating as most Referees in the local league are from the majority Shona tribe which also makes the bulk of the team's followers. Their biggest rivals Highlanders FC have constantly complained about tribalism in the administration and officiating of local games.

Matches

SeasonCompetitionRoundClubFirst matchSecond matchAggregate
1981African Cup of Champions ClubsR1 Linare5–01–16–1
1981African Cup of Champions ClubsR2 Shooting Stars2–13–05–1
1981African Cup of Champions ClubsQF JE Tizi-Ouzou0–32–22–5
1982African Cup of Champions ClubsR1 Botswana Defence Force XI2–22–14–3
1982African Cup of Champions ClubsR2 Saint-Éloi Lupopo0–01–11–1
1983African Cup of Champions ClubsR1 AFC Leopards5–10–35–4
1983African Cup of Champions ClubsR2 Al Ahly1–41–22–6
1984African Cup of Champions ClubsR1 HTMF Mahajanga3–02–05–0
1984African Cup of Champions ClubsR2 Kampala City Council0–02–12–1
1984African Cup of Champions ClubsQF JE Tizi-Ouzou2–00–22–2
1986African Cup of Champions ClubsR1 Maji Maji5–12–07–1
1986African Cup of Champions ClubsR2 Zamalek1–20–21–4
1987African Cup of Champions ClubsR1 Mbabane Highlanders6–12–18–2
1987African Cup of Champions ClubsR2 Lupopo3–11–14–2
1987African Cup of Champions ClubsQF Canon Yaoundé1–21–12–3
1989African Cup Winners' CupR1 BFV1–10–11–2
1990African Cup of Champions ClubsR1 Petro Atlético1–11–11–1
1990African Cup of Champions ClubsR2 Al-Hilal2–10–12–2
1991African Cup Winners' CupR1 Maxaquene5–12–07–1
1991African Cup Winners' CupR2 Diables Noirs2–01–13–1
1991African Cup Winners' CupQF BCC Lions1–10–31–4
1995African Cup of Champions ClubsR1 Al-Hilal1–01–02–0
1995African Cup of Champions ClubsR2 Chaouia1–13–24–3
1995African Cup of Champions ClubsQF Express1–01–22–2
1996African Cup of Champions ClubsR1 Gor Mahia1–01–02–0
1996African Cup of Champions ClubsR2 Shooting Stars1–53–14–6
1997African Cup Winners' CupPR Sigara0–13–03–1
1997African Cup Winners' CupR1 Bata Bullets1–01–02–0
1997African Cup Winners' CupR2 Jomo Cosmos2–10–22–3
1998CAF Champions LeagueR1 Telecom Wanderers2–12–14–2
1998CAF Champions LeagueR2 Ferroviário Maputo1–11–02–1
1998CAF Champions LeagueGS, GA Eagle Cement3–01–0N/A
1998CAF Champions LeagueGS, GA Accra Hearts of Oak1–10–1N/A
1998CAF Champions LeagueGS, GA Étoile du Sahel1–00–1N/A
1998CAF Champions LeagueF ASEC Mimosas0–02–42–4
1999CAF Champions LeagueR1 Lesotho Defence Force3–01–04–0
1999CAF Champions LeagueR2 Vital'O2–01–03–0
1999CAF Champions LeagueGS, GB Saint-Louisienne0–17–2N/A
1999CAF Champions LeagueGS, GB Espérance0–20–1N/A
1999CAF Champions LeagueGS, GB ASEC Mimosas0–22–1N/A
2004CAF Confederation CupPR Savanne0–03–03–0
2004CAF Confederation CupR32 King Faisal Babes0–10–40–5
2008CAF Champions LeaguePR Royal Leopards1–02–03–0
2008CAF Champions LeagueR1 Costa do Sol3–01–24–2
2008CAF Champions LeagueR2 Étoile du Sahel1–01–02–0
2008CAF Champions LeagueGS, GA ASEC Mimosas2–12–1N/A
2008CAF Champions LeagueGS, GA Zamalek0–11–0N/A
2008CAF Champions LeagueGS, GA Al Ahly1–20–1N/A
2008CAF Champions LeagueSF Coton Sport0–10–40–5
2010CAF Champions LeagueR1 Saint-Éloi Lupopo1–01–02–0
2010CAF Champions LeagueR2 Gaborone United4–10–14–2
2010CAF Champions LeagueGS, GA TP Mazembe0–21–2N/A
2010CAF Champions LeagueGS, GA Espérance0–10–1N/A
2010CAF Champions LeagueGS, GA ES Sétif1–00–3N/A
2011CAF Champions LeagueR1 MC Alger4–10–34–4
2012CAF Champions LeagueR1 Liga Muçulmana2–21–03–2
2012CAF Champions LeagueR2 Espérance0–61–11–7
2012CAF Confederation CupPO Interclube0–00–10–1
2013CAF Champions LeaguePR Lesotho Correctional Services3–00–13–1
2013CAF Champions LeagueR1 Bizertin0–31–01–3
2014CAF Champions LeaguePR Mochudi Centre Chiefs3–00–13–1
2014CAF Champions LeagueR1 Vita Club0–00–10–1

Players

First-team squad

Backroom staff

Directors