Are clubs selfish?

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
AT the beginning of every footballing season, media is awash with reports on player transfers.
Some of the players planned moves are however thwarted by clubs who want to hold onto the players.  In order to stop the players from leaving their clubs, some club authorities demand unrealistic prices.

A player watching his dream of turning out for the country’s giants Highlanders collapsing is national team midfielder Danny “Deco” Phiri whose club Chicken Inn have closed doors on Bosso.

Phiri had written to his club expressing his desire to move but that request seems to have hit a brick wall. Sources within Gamecocks saying any local club that wants him must fork $50,000 which they feel is almost what the club can get if he moves to South Africa.

Chicken Inn got $80,000 when Tendai Ndoro moved to Mpumalanga Black Aces last year.
Phiri might not be the only one entangled in player transfer wrangle with the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe secretary Paul Gundani expecting more such cases to come up before the transfer-window closes.

Gundani blasted clubs for being selfish saying clubs must allow players to move as and when they wish to do so.
“I think we can qualify clubs as selfish in the sense that when a player desires to move, contractually all he is required to do is approach his club. There are procedures that need to be followed when doing so and if a player engages his club, there is not reason for the club to stand in his way.

“When a player decides to move he would have been influenced by either a need to develop his career or prospects of a better pay. What is disappointing is that some clubs deliberately stand in the way of such players by refusing to negotiate with teams that intend to engage the players. What id disappointing is that  such clubs after refusing to release the players do not bother to review the players’ conditions of service,” said Gundani.

Soccer agents’ boss Omega Sibanda said it does not make sense to keep a player against his will.
He also encouraged players to sign contracts with want-away clauses. Players should also keep copies of their contracts so that they are not shortchanged by clubs.

“What is disturbing is that clubs favour to include a clause which states that they can terminate the contract on mutual understanding. Players should also include similar clause so that in the event of other clubs showing an interest in them, they can freely move. The club and the player can even negotiate a buy-out clause so that players’ movements are not infringed.

“In simple terms, clubs must not be selfish to stand in players way as that stifle the player’s development financially and on the field of play,” Sibanda said.
Gundani took a swipe at clubs that dupe players by failing to provide a copy of their contracts leading to disputes.

“Most clubs lie to players and tell them that the contracts that they would have signed are submitted to Zifa and PSL to be stamped. That is a blatant lie because once one signs a contract, that becomes legally binding and clubs must release a copy to the player immediately after signing.

“I think 90 percent of PSL clubs and most Division One teams negotiate in bad faith and that is why we are saying Zifa and PSL must move in to guard against exploitation of players. They (Zifa and PSL) must also punish clubs that don’t give players copies of their contracts,” Gundani said.

On Thursday Fuz appeared before the Zifa Players Status Committee representing Monomotapa players who are accusing the club of breach of contract and want out.
Gundani said most of the players from the relegated Premiership club did not have copies of their contracts and they had to ask for the duplicates from Zifa and PSL.

Another matter that is headed for the Zifa Player Status Committee is that of Felix Chindungwe who is embroiled in a transfer wrangle with Chicken Inn who are saying he is contracted to them. The player vehemently denies extending his contract with the fastfoods outlets sponsored club and says his marriage with the Gamecocks ended last December.

Chindungwe has since signed for Highlanders with Chicken Inn telling Bosso in writing to stop using the player.
If he takes his matter to the Zifa Players Status Committee, Chindungwe will have to part with $1,000 so that his case is heard but Fuz say the amount is exorbitant.

“The reason why players end up giving up in their fight against clubs is failure to raise the required fees,” said Gundani.