MBABANE – There already are players who have benefitted after reporting their grievances with clubs to the world football governing mother body, FIFA, now coach Siyabonga Bhembe wants same.
FIFA denotes Federation of International Football Associations. The former Mbabane Swallows qualified physical trainer and then co-coach with Musa Manyatsi last season for the red and white giants had his contract unceremoniously terminated soon after the Mbabane Derby 2-1 defeat by his former employers Mbabane Highlanders. He was relieved of his duties about four days after the derby loss, with poor performance cited even though that was unjustified given their results during Bhembe’s presence and he still disputes that for a reason to terminate his contract. “We agreed that when they terminated my contract I would be paid out, but now things have changed. I want my money but people are playing hide and seek and one wonders if the club president is even aware I’m no longer receiving my monthly pay, which is the salary I signed for.
Chasing
“Swallows paid me two instalments in January and February but now I’ve been chasing after them without any redress but dishonesty. Due to their behaviour in the whole issue, I want every cent of my money as I signed for two years from November 2021. They now owe me so much money, from this month to November this year and my lawyer has advised we report the matter to FIFA,” he said yesterday. Bhembe was paid a reported E15 000 salary per month at Swallows and at the time of his contract termination late last year, he had already served 13 months of the contract, which earned him E195 000. He was left with 11 months on his contract, which is equivalent to E165 000.
Enlightened
“They paid for two months, you can imagine out of all the money they must pay me. I’ve now been enlightened about the contract issue by my legal representatives and we’re certainly reporting this to FIFA. Our teams must learn to respect contracts and know that termination for no breach by the holder means you have the money to pay out for what was left in the agreement. “We even had players who were released right at the death of the second registration window, who have to endure the wait for the rest of the season as it was late to get new teams, but no one is addressing that when it is against football and these players remain Swallows players meaning they must also be receiving their pay,” Bhembe retorted.
He said he tried to speak to the relevant officials at Swallows but referred this reporter to the team’s Governor Sebenele Nhlengetfwa and Party Bhiya. However, Bhiya also referred the reporter to Nhlengetfwa. The latter could not be immediately reached. Meanwhile, Swallows have been reported to FIFA before and were forced to pay out a player they owed. Also, Moneni Pirates almost failed to register the team and players for the current season as they also had to pay over E80 000 following FIFA verdict, while Mbabane Highlanders could also be sanctioned after their recently signed South African goalie Bongani Manavhela also reported them to FIFA for an allegedly owed signing-on fee.
