Beefy sues City: Wants $63k for breach of contract

Fungai Muderere
FORMER Bulawayo City head coach Philani aï¿½?Beefyaï¿½? Ncube has sounded an intention to claim $63 000 in contractual damages from his erstwhile employer Bulawayo City Council (BCC) following his ouster after a match- fixing allegations storm.

Ncube, credited with propelling Bulawayo City FC to the Premier Soccer League in 2016, was suspended by Zifa over match fixing allegations together with his then assistant, Farai Mujokoro.

His suspension was, however, subsequently lifted by Zifa but Mujokoro was slapped with a five-year ban from all football-related activities. At the time when Beefyaï¿½ï¿½s suspension was lifted, City had already hired Mandla aï¿½?Luluaï¿½? Mpofu who recently assumed duty as the clubaï¿½ï¿½s head coach.

In a letter dated 7 March, Ncube through his legal representatives Mashayamombe and Company wrote to Bulawayo City claiming among other things monthly salary, fuel allowances, airtime allowance, camping fees and winning bonuses for the two years that he was supposed to be serving as Bulawayo Cityaï¿½ï¿½s head coach.

aï¿½?He is citing breach of contract and he is asking for severance package that he grossed to $62 880. Itaï¿½ï¿½s all because we did not take him back after his suspension was lifted by Zifa. He gave us seven days to respond to his letter and as such we forwarded his letter to our lawyer and we are yet to get any response,aï¿½? said Bulawayo City chief executive officer Mackenzie Moyo.

He said that they had since notified the clubaï¿½ï¿½s advisory board on Ncubeaï¿½ï¿½s claim to contractual damages.

Moyo added that Bulawayo City could have hired him back but then felt the relationship with the incumbent coach would have compromised progress at the club prompting them to release Ncube from the contract.

aï¿½?We could have taken him (Ncube) back but we donaï¿½ï¿½t think he will work well with current technical team. We now have Mandla Mpofu in charge and it will be a very dicey situation to bring Ncube back. The move can always work against the club,aï¿½? said Moyo.

Last week, we reported that the club was at a crossroads over the proposed re-appointment of Ncube with some members of the club executive against the move while others wanted the gaffer brought back into the fold.

Now word from the Bulawayo City FC camp is that part of the club executive is pushing for the reinstatement of Ncube and for the demotion of Mpofu to assistant coach.

Those that are against the move are said to be using a litany of accusations against Ncube to block his return to the team.

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