Dynamos intensify push for Pasuwa

Dynamos Football Club are aiming to appoint a new head coach by the end of this week as the Harare giants look to begin preparations for the upcoming season with an early pre-season training camp.

The Glamour Boys have intensified efforts to lure club legend Kalisto Pasuwa back to Rufaro Stadium, with the former DeMbare coach emerging as the preferred candidate of the newly elected executive. The current leadership, which assumed office just over a week ago, moved swiftly to address the coaching vacancy left by the departure of Zambian tactician Kelvin Kaindu.

However, negotiations have been complicated by the fact that Pasuwa is still under contract with the Football Association of Malawi, where he serves as head coach of the national team until January next year. Dynamos are understood to have tabled two offers in an attempt to persuade Pasuwa to seek a mutual separation from his current employers, but the parties are yet to agree on financial terms.

Dynamos chairman Vincent Chawonza confirmed that talks were ongoing, urging supporters and stakeholders to remain patient as the club works behind the scenes.

"Of course, negotiations have been taking place, and I think we don't need to be saying much at this point," said Chawonza. "We prefer working quietly, and that is what we have been doing. There have been many options presented to us. We received CVs from different parts of the world and, hopefully, by Friday we should have finalised the issue of the coach so that the team can start pre-season training."

Pasuwa remains a popular figure among the Dynamos faithful after guiding the club to an unprecedented four consecutive league titles between 2011 and 2014. Many within the DeMbare camp believe his experience, coupled with his recent success in Malawi, could help restore the club's former dominance after several challenging seasons.

Besides Pasuwa, Dynamos have also been linked with an unnamed Serbian coach and former Zambia national team mentor Wedson Nyirenda. However, talks with Nyirenda are believed to have stalled after the ex-Baroka coach reportedly demanded a signing-on fee and salary package beyond the club's financial reach.

As preparations for the new season gather pace, Dynamos are also actively working on strengthening their squad. The club is set to compete on two fronts this year, including a return to continental football in the CAF Confederation Cup, placing added pressure on the need to assemble a competitive team capable of handling a demanding fixture list.

DeMbare have been linked with several high-profile players, including Walter Musona, Khama Billiat, Tichaona Chipunza, Michael Tapera and Scottland goalkeeper Kelvin Shangiwa. Midfielders Perfect Chikwende and Blessed Ndereki are also reportedly on the club's radar.

Club captain Emmanuel Jalai, whose contract expired on December 31, is another priority, with Dynamos keen to retain his services despite reported interest from clubs in North Africa. The club is also working on new contracts for midfielders Shadreck Nyahwa and Temptation Chiwunga as part of its broader rebuilding exercise ahead of the new campaign.