Mabhena wins case against Bots club
ZIMBABWEAN coach Philani Mabhena has won a reprieve from Fifa, who have ordered Botswana club Mochudi Centre Chiefs to pay him 111 100 pula (about US$10 000) for failing to honour a termination agreement.
Mabhena, a former FC Platinum and How Mine coach and assistant at Highlanders, was at Centre Chiefs in 2018-2019.
He is currently not attached.
Correspondence dated November 10 from Fifa shows a Player Status Committee presided over by Judge Johan van Gaalen (South Africa) on November 3 ruled in favour of Mabhena, but dismissed other claims as the gaffer is said to have initially made a 121 000 pula claim.
Articles 22(c), 23(1) and 23(3) of Fifa’s Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players holds that Fifa is competent to deal with an employment-related dispute of an international dimension between a club and a coach.
The letter, written by Fifa head of player status, Erika Montemor Ferreira, is copied to Mochudi Centre Chiefs, Botswana Football Association, Mabhena and his lawyers Lyrique Dominic du Plessis and George DeBeer.
The money is to be paid plus 5% interest per annum. “The claim of the claimant, Philani Mabhena, is partially accepted. The respondent, Mochudi Centre Chiefs, has to pay to the claimant, within 30 days as from the date of notification of this decision, the following amount: Botswana Pula (BWP)111 100 plus interest of 5% per annum as follows: BWP56 100 plus 5% per annum as from August 11, 2019; BWP45 000 plus 5% per annum as from January 11, 2019; BWP10 000 plus 5% per annum as from January 11 ,2019,” the letter reads.
Any further claims by Mabhena were rejected and if the said money is not paid to the coach in the stipulated time, the matter will be referred to the Fifa disciplinary committee.
The letter reads: “The claimant is directed to inform the respondent immediately and directly of the account number to which the remittances are to be made and to notify the single judge of the Players’ Status Committee (Gaalen) of every payment received.
Also appended on the correspondence is the name of chief legal and compliance officer of the Players’ Status Committee Emilio García Silvero.
Another Zimbabwean coach Bongani Mafu also made a P449 500 (US$40 000) claim to Fifa against Mochudi Centre Chiefs for unpaid salaries and bonuses. However, sources said the claims have been restructured and await adjudication. Mafu, also a former Bosso gaffer and now Hwange head coach, was at Mochudi in the 2016-2017 season.