Soccer legend Peter Ndlovu’s former employer Nkululeko Sibanda yesterday dismissed claims that he owed the former Warriors captain $55 000 in signing-on fees.
Report by Charles Laiton
Sibanda argues the memorandum of agreement (MoA) between the two parties was prepared by people not educated at law.
The Twalumba Holdings director told High Court judge Justice Mary Zimba-Dube that the MoA, which Ndlovu based his claim on was simply an agreement meant to pave way for the signing of a contract between the Young Warriors coach and his former team Highfield United.
Sibanda said Ndlovu declined to sign a football contract that was presented to him saying he intended to consult with his family in Bulawayo before committing himself to the deal.
“This agreement was drawn by people not educated at law, but we wanted to say, ‘upon Peter signing a contract, which we would use to register him with Highfield United’. The contract was never signed,” Sibanda said.
“This was a forerunner to the soccer contract which we were going to sign, without which we could not register him because the MoA was not recognised as a contract.”
However, Ndlovu’s agent Winston Makamure told the court that signing-on fees were paid in accordance with International Federation of Association Football rules and regulations.
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“Signing-on fee is a commitment fee or a token fee signed for awaiting a contract,” he said.
“It is an amount due to any player who would be intending to negotiate a contract.”
Asked to comment on whether Ndlovu’s contract with Twalumba Holdings entitled him to any fees, Makamure said: “Before one signs a contract one has to negotiate for signing-on fees, wages and in some instances, allowances, and once these have been agreed upon a contract is then signed.”
Ndlovu took his former boss to court sometime last year after the two failed to agree on terms of their contractual agreement. Through his lawyer Harrison Nkomo, Ndlovu said he was entitled to the fees since he signed a contract with Twalumba Holdings who were representing Highfield United.
The case continues today.
Sibanda and Twalumba Holdings are being represented by Pardon Makuwaza.
