Former Dynamos Football Club defender Brighton Tuwaya has taken his former paymasters to court demanding over nearly $8 000 in signing-on fees and winning bonuses.
BY CHARLES LAITON
Tuwaya filed summons at the High Court against DeMbare on December 23 last year after the latter allegedly refused to pay him a total $7 950.
In the particulars of the claim which forms part of the court summons, Tuwaya said he was engaged by the country’s most popular football club to provide services as a defender sometime in May 2008.
The defender said he played for DeMbare from the time he was engaged until December 31, 2010 when the marriage between the two ended.
“The plaintiff (Tuwaya) had an agreement with the defendant (DeMbare), wherein plaintiff was to be paid immediately signing-on fees on assumption of duty amounting to $4 000, winning bonuses in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) amounting to $850, winning bonuses in the CAF [Confederation of African Football] in the sum of $2 000 and qualification bonus in the CAF Mini League amounting to $600,” Tuwaya’s lawyers said.
“It was further agreed that plaintiff was to withdraw a matter which was before the Labour Court. This culminated into an attempt to settle the matter out of court with the assistance of the Footballers’ Union of Zimbabwe.”
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However, Tuwaya said Dynamos “prevaricated from its undertaking to make good the debt” which it kept on rolling over each year from the date of demand.
“In breach of the agreement, the defendant has failed to pay the outstanding amount of $7 950 within the time the parties had agreed to and to date, the amount remains outstanding,” he said.
The lawyers added: “Plaintiff made several efforts and follow-ups to defendant. Despite lawful demand from plaintiff, defendant failed, neglected and/or refused to pay the $7 950.”
Sometime in March 2011, then Dynamos executive chairman Farai Munetsi wrote to the secretary of the Footballers’ Union of Zimbabwe acknowledging owing the club’s former defender.
In a letter forming part of the court papers, Munetsi wrote: “Dynamos Football Club hereby acknowledges that it owes Brighton Tuwaya signing-on fees and bonus payments for the time he was playing for the club.
“The club’s failure to fully pay Brighton his dues is because of the financial crisis it is facing. The club, however, undertakes to pay what is due to Brighton by paying on a fortnightly basis (on all home games) $200 per occasion as a way of liquidating the debt . . .”
Tuwaya is represented by Tarisai Mkwacha.
