Dynamos Spend Over R2.3 Million On Sangomas While Players Go Unpaid
DYNAMOS have been accused of splashing more than US$126,000 (R2.3 million) on sangomas over the last 32 months — while failing to pay two Ghanaian players just US$18,500 (R340,000) in total.
The payments to traditional healers were allegedly made across 126 matches in league, cup, and continental competitions, according to H-Metro.
“The club paid sangomas US$1,000 (R18,300) per game from February 2022 to December 2024,” said a source.
“That’s 126 games. That’s US$126,000 (R2.3 million). Meanwhile, the players were owed a combined US$18,500 (R340,000) and were ignored.”
The club now faces a FIFA-imposed transfer ban.
Transfer ban fallout
Dynamos’ failure to pay Ghanaian duo Emmanuel Paga (US$8,500 / R156,000) and Frederick Botchway (US$10,000 / R184,000) has seen them slapped with a suspension preventing them from registering new players.
FIFA confirmed the sanction after the players took their complaints to the global football body.
“It’s embarrassing,” said one former official.
“They ignored two players’ salaries and bonuses for years while religiously paying vana sekuru.”
Both players joined DeMbare between 2022 and 2023. Paga left in December last year. Botchway is still owed.
At a press conference in Harare, some supporters expressed frustration.
“How can you prioritise sangomas over players?” asked one speaker.
“This team can’t even win games, yet money is going to rituals.”
Midnight visits to Rufaro
Sources revealed that even as Dynamos struggle near the relegation zone, some officials still visit Rufaro Stadium in the early hours on match days.
“Some go between midnight and dawn to perform rituals,” said a club insider.
“They believe it helps reduce defeats — like losing 1-0 instead of 4-0.”
The club won the Chibuku Super Cup twice recently, which some credit to the sangomas. But in the league, DeMbare are third-from-bottom after 13 games with just one win.
“Vana sekuru say it would be worse without them,” another insider told H-Metro.
“They believe they’re holding off disaster, even if it doesn’t look like it.”
Who’s next?
This is not the first time Dynamos have been punished by FIFA. Former player Evans Gwekwerere also took his case to Zurich and won.
“Now it’s Paga and Fred,” said a former executive.
“Next could be Urikhob, Frank Makarati, Illunga, Ziocha, or Mathe. The club is exposing itself to more bans.”
Dynamos are not the only team in Zimbabwe to consult sangomas, but the size of their reported payments and their recent poor form have drawn particular scrutiny.
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The post Zimbabwe’s Most Successful Club, Dynamos, Spend Over R2.3 Million On Sangomas While Players Go Unpaid appeared first on iHarare News.
