Dynamos' Sport De Vitara kit deal collapses

A new kit sponsorship deal is on the horizon for Castle Lager Premiership giants Dynamos FC after their partnership with Pakistani company Sport De Vitara collapsed before taking effect.

The deal, signed in June last year, was expected to commence this month and would have seen the Glamour Boys receive consignments of training and match kits, replicas, energy drinks and travelling gear. However, the arrangement has since fallen through following disagreements over the terms of the sponsorship.

Dynamos sources confirmed that the club's new executive has since terminated the Sport De Vitara deal and is now in advanced negotiations with a prospective new partner, 90Mins+, who could be unveiled in the coming days once outstanding details are finalised.

The Harare giants have also explored alternative options, including holding discussions with former sponsor OTB Looks, raising the possibility of a renewed partnership.

An official close to the club said the current leadership had no intention of pursuing the Sport De Vitara agreement, which was signed by the previous executive led by Moses Maunganidze.

"This deal is off. We cannot pursue it anymore because there are some areas that haven't been made clear to us," said the official.

"From our understanding, the sponsor would supply the gear and then recoup their costs from the sale of replicas and other merchandise. But when we engaged them, they insisted on upfront payment for the purchase of the kits. As a club, we were not prepared for such an arrangement, hence the decision."

The kit sponsorship with Sport De Vitara had been hailed as a landmark agreement, following a donation of football equipment — including customised balls — made to Dynamos in 2023 by Pakistan's Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Murad Baseer. The deal was signed with Dynamos represented by board chairman Bernard Marriot and Maunganidze, while Sport De Vitara was represented by chairman Asim Ijaz Malik, who was keen to expand the company's footprint in Africa, where it already operates in countries such as Ghana and Egypt.

With that partnership now off, Dynamos have renewed talks with 90Mins+, a company they previously engaged ahead of the 2024 season before circumstances stalled progress. Club officials say the firm has since made presentations that have impressed the Dynamos management, fuelling optimism that a deal will soon be concluded.

The developments come amid reports that DeMbare are also close to securing full sponsorship from Sakunda Holdings, as part of a broader drive to attract corporate partners and restore the club's lost glamour ahead of the 2026 season.

Dynamos are eager to improve their competitiveness in a Premiership increasingly shaped by financial muscle, while also ending a championship drought that stretches back to 2014, when they last won the league under Kalisto Pasuwa. Last season, Dynamos — alongside fellow giants Highlanders — only confirmed their survival on the final day of the campaign.

Despite announcing the return of coach Genesis Mangombe, the club has yet to reveal its off-season plans or unveil new signings, sparking growing unease among supporters. Dynamos have already lost three key players — Issaka Mohammed, Vusa Ngwenya and goalkeeper Prince Tafiremutsa — with no replacements officially announced.

Speculation continues to swirl around potential targets, including Witness Shave, Michael Tapera, Collin Mujuru, Perfect Chikwende, Munashe Bamara, Tino Muringai, Moses Demera, Emmanuel Mandiranga and Malawian forward Stanley Billiat, but for now, the Glamour Boys remain largely quiet on the transfer front as preparations for the new season gather pace.