Shipanga, Pedro drag Blue Waters to labour court
Former Blue Waters head coach Paulus Shipanga and his assistant Armando Pedro have dragged the football club to the labour court for breach of contract. In the summons seen by Nampa and addressed to the club, the two allege that Blue Waters constructively dismissed them.
The duo state that their dismissal was procedurally and substantially unfair because their right to be heard was not adhered to, and the club failed to pay out the remainder of their contracts as per the agreement.
The two are claiming N$337 000 and N$208 000, respectively, for the breach of contract, which they signed at the beginning of the 2021 season and was due to end at the conclusion of the season in 2023.
The pair did not last a year in their positions as the club terminated their contracts in December 2021, after defaulting on their salaries in October and November.
The cited reasons for the termination of the contracts were that the two had failed to reach their performance targets, insubordination, lack of discipline, instigating players to revolt against the club and management, disclosure of confidential information and violating the club’s code of conduct, amongst others.
The club then suggested that the two resign, but they refused, which led to them having their contracts terminated without a hearing.
Efforts to get comment from club chairman Robert Shimoushili, or his deputy Temba Nghitaunapo, all proved fruitless.
However, an insider within the Blue Waters executive committee confirmed that the main reason for firing the two was because of the lack of football in Namibia.
“As a club, we could not afford to pay the two while there are no football activities. Sponsors are reluctant to release money to us because there are no games,” the insider said. The conciliation/arbitration case between the parties involved is set for the Walvis Bay Labour Court on 26 April 2022.