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Raymond Jaravaza
ZIFA failed to turn up at the first hearing of a court case in which the association is being sued by former Mighty Warriors coach Shadreck Mlauzi.
Last week Mlauzi instructed his lawyer Prince Butshe Dube of Mathonsi Ncube Law Chambers to file a lawsuit against Zifa over unfair dismissal and unpaid salaries while he was still at the helm of the senior national womena��s team.
a�?Zifa defaulted the first hearing that was held at the Ministry of Labour in Bulawayo so the case was postponed to 13 March. Thata��s when Zifa is expected to file opposing papers if they wish to do so,a�? said the legal practitioner Butshe Dube.
Zifa spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela professed ignorance at the no show of the football mother body in court while acting secretary-general Joseph Mamutse was not reachable for comment.
Mlauzi was dismissed by Zifa at the recommendation of the High Performance Committee.
The coach wants Zifa to compensate him for non-payment of salaries since he took over the Mighty Warriors in September 2015, camping allowances when the team played in the Olympics and Africa Women Cup of Nations qualifiers.
He is also seeking match fees when the team played in Brazil and Cameroon in the two major tournaments as well as foreign camping fees. Mlauzi wants compensation for unlawful termination of his contract despite the fact it was not signed on paper.
Meanwhile, the former Mighty Warriors coach surrendered the vehicle given to him by a Zifa benefactor because there is no legal document compelling the coach to hold onto the Toyota Hilux.
a�?For starters the car is not registered to Zifa but to a company called Hansporte Investments so we could not hold onto it because the legal owners could end up dragging us to court.
a�?Secondly there is legal document stating that my client is entitled to the vehicle in the event of parting ways with Zifa, nothing was signed between the two parties when the vehicle was handed to my client,a�? said the lawyer.
Mlauzi handed over the car to Zifa officials at their Bulawayo offices last Friday, taking a cue from former senior national team coach, Callisto Pasuwa who also left the vehicle he had been using at Zifaa��s Harare offices.
The coaches had been handed the vehicles by Zifa benefactor, Wicknell Chivayo.
Online Reporter