Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube
Zimpapers Sports Hub
WHAT a time to be Benjani Mwaruwari right now.
Only last week he got a brand new car and US$10,000 in cash from Highlanders benefactor Wicknell Chivayo.
Now, he is set to get US$570,000 from Ngezi Platinum Stars for unlawful dismissal.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed Ngezi Platinum’s final appeal.
The award, issued on February 23, 2026 under case number CAS 2025/A/11286, upheld an earlier decision of the FIFA Players Status Chamber of unlawful dismissal, warranting compensation.
The order includes five percent annual interest from March 14, 2024 until payment, as well as arbitration costs and a contribution towards the coach’s legal expenses.
Benjani’s Ndabezinhle Nyathi of Touchwood Intermediaries Oy, said the ruling removed all remaining uncertainty.
“It brings finality,” he said.
“Two international tribunals have now reached the same conclusion. The process has run its full course and the outcome is clear,” said Nyathi from his base in Finland.
CAS is the highest judicial authority in international sport.
The order will add to Bongani Mafu’s US$196 000 which was granted last year.
The former Zimbabwe Premiership champions had challenged the award arguing that FIFA was not competent to deal with the matter.
Andrew Mercer of the United Kingdom, who was the arbitrator, rejected that argument, finding that the club had failed to challenge FIFA’s jurisdiction during the original proceedings and could not raise the objection for the first time on appeal.
Nyathi said he was not surprised.
“The jurisdictional argument the club advanced was always difficult. CAS is well settled on the principle that a party cannot remain silent on jurisdiction throughout FIFA proceedings and then raise the issue for the first time on appeal. Once that ground fell away, the substantive findings stood on their own.”
Ngezi was represented by Lyrique Du Plessis and Eben Koen of BDP Attorneys, Cape Town.
Nyathi added:
“Parties are entitled to exercise their appeal rights that is what the system is designed for. What matters now is what happens next. An award confirmed by CAS is final and binding. The question of compliance is no longer a legal one; it is a matter of institutional obligation.”
Under FIFA regulations, confirmed financial awards are binding. Where payment is not made, disciplinary measures may follow, including transfer and registration bans that remain in force until the debt is satisfied.
Asked on the club’s position after the order, Ngezi Platinum Stars’ spokesperson Roberta Katunga asked Zimpapers Sports Hub to put te questions in writing, but had not responded at the time of going to print.
