Zimbabwe: Kaindu’s Faith Tested in Dynamos Survival Mission

Coach Kelvin Kaindu’s faith-driven approach revives Dynamos’ fight for survival in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League after a crucial 3-0 win over Kwekwe United (image source)

Dynamos’ relegation scrap shifted into sharper focus after a vital 3-0 win over Kwekwe United that revived faint hopes of staying in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League — a result coach Kelvin Kaindu has framed more as a test of belief than tactics. The victory gave DeMbare consecutive league wins for the first time this season and offered a temporary lift to a fractured fan base increasingly impatient with poor form and off-field instability.

Kaindu arrived amid turbulence, poised to replace Saul Chaminuka in a midseason shakeup as the club scrambled to arrest a slide that left them perilously close to the drop zone. The coaching change was abrupt and signalled management’s readiness to gamble on an experienced operator whose brief includes rebuilding morale, tightening defensive structures, and extracting consistent performances from a thin squad beset by injuries and scarce transfer resources.

Faith, Kaindu says, is central to his method. He credited belief and collective resolve after the Kwekwe win and told supporters that survival remains possible if players embrace discipline and focus in training and matches. That stance mixes pastoral leadership with pragmatic demands: Kaindu has also tweaked the team’s shape, prioritising compact midfield lines and quicker transition play to mask individual limitations and exploit opponents on the counter.

Eyewitnesses inside Ascot Stadium described a team visibly less brittle under Kaindu. Supporters noticed sharper pressing in the midfield and greater willingness from senior pros to shoulder responsibility late in matches. “The boys looked freer, more connected,” said a long-time season ticket holder who watched from the East Stand. The crowd’s renewed volume, small but significant, buoyed players making their first back-to-back win in months.

External analysts welcome Kaindu’s temperament but warn against mistaking optimism for structural fixes. A local football analyst noted the club’s deeper problems: inconsistent youth development, inadequate scouting, and the fractious relationship between the board and the technical team — any of which could erase short-term gains if unaddressed. He urged a clear plan for player recruitment and sports science investment to reduce injuries that have repeatedly depleted Dynamos’ squad.

Financial strain compounds on-field woes. Gate revenues have slumped, and sponsor interest is tepid, limiting the club’s ability to reinforce during the transfer window. Kaindu’s challenge is therefore dual: win football matches and restore confidence among stakeholders whose support is crucial for midterm rebuilding.

With less than half the season left, every match is a final. Kaindu’s blend of faith and tactical pragmatism offers a narrative of resilience; its success will be measured in points rather than platitudes. For Dynamos, salvation will come from disciplined performances, improved recruitment, and a fan base ready to back a coach who insists belief must be matched by work on the training pitch.