Langton Nyakwenda Zimpapers Sports Hub AS Dynamos brace for a tough end to the first half of their 2025 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) campaign with an away date against unbeaten FC Platinum this afternoon, concern is mounting over the club’s sharp decline, on and off the pitch. Last week, the Glamour Boys officially confirmed they were pulling out of the 2025/2026 CAF Confederation Cup due to financial and organisational constraints. While the announcement did not make as much noise at the time, it has since stirred deep concern among former administrators and long-time stakeholders of Zimbabwe’s most decorated football institution. One such voice is Patson Moyo, the club’s former chairperson, who led Dynamos to a remarkable CAF Champions League semi-final in 2008 despite operating under one of Zimbabwe’s most turbulent economic periods. “We operated in a hyperinflationary environment, but still we pulled through,” Moyo told Zimpapers Sports Hub in an exclusive interview. “We knew the Champions League was a grand stage and we had to make sure players were given the opportunity to showcase their talent.” This time around, Dynamos earned their spot in the CAF Confederation Cup after winning last season’s Chibuku Super Cup, but last week they cited lack of preparedness as the reason for their withdrawal. “After thorough evaluation, it has been determined that the club is not yet fully prepared to compete at continental level,” read part of a statement from the team. “While it has been a painstaking decision, we believe it is in the best interest of the team . . . to focus on strengthening its readiness for future competitions.” Moyo believes such a move is symbolic of a deeper institutional crisis at the once mighty club. “We need to appreciate what Marriot (club owner Bernard Marriot) has done; he has tried his best, but it’s clear now he needs help,” Moyo said. “Pulling out of CAF weakens the brand. It denies players a platform and also robs fans of the pride that comes with continental football.” Dynamos are 14th on the PSL table, having collected just 14 points from 16 games. Before last Thursday’s 1-0 win over Yadah, they had gone 11 games without a victory, a miserable stretch that included six defeats and five draws. Now, as they prepare to face an FC Platinum side that has been unbeaten this season and sits fifth on the table with 24 points, the broader issue of Dynamos’ footballing decline looms even larger. Coach Saul Chaminuka believes there is something to build on after Thursday last week’s result. “We could have scored as many as five goals today (Thursday last week),” said Chaminuka. “If we can continue creating chances like that, it means we are close to turning things around.” Still, some supporters have begun to distance themselves from the club, threatening boycotts and voicing frustration over the team’s lack of identity and progress. Dynamos, who famously reached the CAF Champions League final in 1998 and the semis a decade later, now risk becoming irrelevant in both local and continental spheres. “The demise of Dynamos is a loss to everyone with interests in football development,” Moyo added. “There is still time to save this club, but it needs genuine engagement between the owners, former players, administrators and fans.” He noted the irony of the CAF withdrawal, coming at a time when the Government is investing in stadium upgrades to make the country eligible to host international matches again. “Pulling out at a time like this kills the momentum. Dynamos are the country’s biggest brand; they cannot be allowed to fade,” he said. Back in 2008, Dynamos played their CAF games in front of packed stadiums, with a team less funded but more spirited. Today’s squad is faltering in both areas. “The brand still carries weight, but we need direction, vision and unity to restore it,” Moyo concluded. Today’s Mandava clash may offer temporary distraction, but the bigger task lies in saving a legacy, and ensuring the name Dynamos remains a symbol of football excellence, not decline.