WARRIORS legend Peter Ndlovu yesterday told a Harare High Court judge he won over 100 football caps for Zimbabwe and signed many contracts with different clubs and therefore would not claim what was not due to him. Report by Charles Laiton
Ndlovu made the remarks while giving evidence in a case where he is suing his former employer Twalumba Holdings over non-payment of $55 000 signing-on fees for a contract he allegedly entered into in 2011. Through his lawyer Harrison Nkomo, Ndlovu said: “Yes, I am the most decorated player in Zimbabwean football because of what I have achieved for the national team and the country.
“As soon as one puts pen to paper, he is immediately entitled to the signing-on fees and if the payment is delayed, then it would be paid within that month.”
Ndlovu said the reason why hehad not demanded his money earlier was because he valued his relationship with Twalumba Holdings owner Nkululeko Sibanda as they were also business partners. Asked by his lawyer on whether he had made enquiries as to why he had not been paid, Ndlovu said: “Yes, I asked my boss Dr Sibanda and he promised to pay me.
“At one point I wanted to let it go, the reason being that we are like one family. “We both come from Binga and I trusted him that he was going to pay me and, above all, we had bigger contracts to worry about.”
Ndlovu told the court that after being contracted by Twalumba Holdings, he together with other players were loaned to Black Mambas Football Club after Sibanda considered they were Premiership players. Ndlovu said he played between five and six games for Highfield United during the pre-season training.
He played over 15 games while at Black Mambas and his wages and expenses were being catered for by Twalumba Holdings.
As the trial progressed, Twalumba Holdings lawyer Pardon Makuwaza suggested to Ndlovu that he was not entitled to any fees since he had a partnership agreement with the firm and not the football club, an assertion Ndlovu dismissed.
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Ndlovu also dismissed an assertion that he was supposed to be paid allowances as a partner and not as a player.
Ndlovu, who is walking with the aid of crutches, told High Court judge Justice Mary Zimba-Dube that he signed an agreement with Twalumba Holdings, who were representing Highfield United Football Club, as a player in 2011.
Ndlovu claims on January 8, 2011 he entered into an agreement with Twalumba to use his expertise to play and inspire the growth of Highfield United, a football club owned by the firm. The trial continues today.
