Harare giants Dynamos have been dealt a massive blow in their revival mission, with the Glamour Boys losing the services of their captain and central defender Augustine Mbara who has signed for newly-promoted South African Premiership side Highlands Park.

Dynamos’ habit of failing to negotiate deals in time as again cost them as they failed to tie up the tall former Warriors defender until his contract expired on June 30.

Mbara’s management team lead by leading player intermediary Gibson Mahachi said the club failed to secure his future despite knowing his contract situation for months.

There were fears that the player could eventually be left out in the cold as Dynamos had more than six months to decide on the player’s future and tie him to a longer spell.

Mbara who inked a two-year deal with Highlands Park, will link up with former Warriors keeper Tapuwa Kapini who played a key role in Highlands Park’s promotion to the top flight.

Mbara has been a key figure in Dynamos’ defence stability and his departure is a massive loss for the club who were seemingly back on track after an initial poor start to the season.

Dynamos could also lose Warriors first choice goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva, with Mahachi indicating that he is by the end of this week set to get feedback from Maritzburg United where the player had gone for trials.

“It is true that Augustine is leaving Dynamos. He has been signed by Highlands Park on a two-year deal and his contract with Dynamos had expired on 30 June.

“Dynamos had of late tried to negotiate a new deal but they left it too late to commit an extension and who knows maybe the talks would have collapsed and he would have been left in limbo,’’ Mahachi said.

Ironically, Mbara leaves Dynamos in the week that his partner in the Glamour Boys central defence Elisha Muroiwa finally agreed to a contract extension.

Muroiwa sat out Dynamos’ clash with Bulawayo City at Barbourfields last Saturday as the contract talks appeared to have stalled.