Kaindu Urges Dynamos to Earn Survival on the Pitch, Not on Calculators

Dynamos coach Kelvin Kaindu urges his team to secure Premier Soccer League survival through results on the pitch rather than relying on other teams (image source)

HARARE — Kelvin Kaindu, the pastor-coach credited with sparking Dynamos’ late revival, issued a clear challenge to his players after Sunday’s vital 1-0 win over Bikita Minerals at Rufaro Stadium: secure survival by winning your own matches, not by relying on the misfortune of rivals.

Kaindu’s message carries weight. When he took charge of the Glamour Boys, the club sat second from bottom and trailed the 16th-placed safety spot by eight points. A remarkable nine-match unbeaten run — six wins and three draws — has since transformed their fortunes and lifted Dynamos into 13th place on 37 points with two games remaining.

“Sometimes, even when we are coaching, maybe the other advantage that I have is I also rely on my faith and also belief where you think there’s no hope,” Kaindu said after the narrow victory. He was quick to acknowledge predecessors, saying little tactical overhaul was needed but that renewed belief and clearer communication made the difference. “I give credit to the other coaches. They probably came at a very difficult time, and the results were not forthcoming. But there isn’t much that we have changed. I think we have maintained almost the same team that was playing,” he added.

Kaindu pinpointed mindset and messaging as the decisive shifts. Rather than calculative survival tactics, he demanded an assertive approach rooted in Dynamos’ history and brand. “Maybe the only thing that has changed is the language, and also just to give confidence to the players that Dynamos is a big brand. We shouldn’t be fighting relegation,” he said.

His insistence on self-reliance was unequivocal. “We said we are not going to use calculators to avoid relegation. We want to win our games, and this is what we have done. And hopefully that we maintain our unbeaten record,” Kaindu declared, urging the squad to keep the momentum through the closing fixtures.

The coach conceded the pressure ahead of the weekend’s match was intense, given Dynamos’ precarious starting position, but praised the team’s resilience. “What is important is that we managed to get maximum points,” he said, admitting the performance was not flawless but effective when it mattered.

With survival largely in their own hands, Dynamos need one more positive result from their final two matches to be confident of staying up. Kaindu warned against complacency and external distractions, urging players to remain focused and consistent. “Like I said, we don’t want to depend on phone calls to see how the other teams have played. We want to remain consistent. If we can remain unbeaten, I think it will be good for us to build our confidence,” he said.

Dynamos’ remaining fixtures:

Week 33: Yadah v Dynamos (Ngoni Stadium)

Week 34: Dynamos v FC Platinum

A win at Ngoni Stadium this Saturday would put Dynamos firmly on course to preserve their top-flight status and validate Kaindu’s faith-and-football philosophy.