Dynamos F.C. (also referred to as both The Glamour Boys, and De-Mbare) 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, Dynamos quickly became one of the strongest sides in the Rhodesian league, and by the attainment of the independence of Zimbabwe in 1980 had become the country's most successful football team, having won six national championships. Dynamos have since won 22 league championships – a national record – and at least 16 trophy/cup honours.
In 1998, Dynamos contested the final of the CAF African Champions League against Ivorian side ASEC MIMOSAS, and lost the two-legged match under highly controversial circumstances.
Historically, Dynamos has been considered one of the great African teams.
History
Dynamos Football Club was founded in 1963.[1] The team's founder, Sam Dauya, was inspired to form a club for local black players in Salisbury (now Harare) 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.[2][4] To this end, Dauya prepared an emblem and wrote a club constitution.[2] 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.[1] Dynamos became the first black team to consistently challenge the predominantly white Rhodesia National Football League, winning successive championships in 1965 and 1966.[1] 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.[5] Known as "Amato the Devil" or the "midfield magician",[5] he was subsequently targeted by two English clubs, Arsenal and Aston Villa; however, Ndola refused to sell him.[4]
The original first team poses with the Austin Cup in 1963
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".[4] 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 (latterly Zimbabwe 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 1998CAF 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.This was the teams best Champions League run in their history. Much of this success was achieved when the much admired Patson Moyo was the chairman of the football club.
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.[4]
Rhodesian 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.
Dynamos FC have long been accused of benefiting from biased officiating.Their biggest rivals Highlanders FC have constantly complained about tribalism in the administration and officiating of local games.
