Relief was the prevalent emotion in Mighty Wanderers camp at the weekend after the High Court in Lilongwe set aside an order for the club to pay American firm Nsejjere Sports and Casual Wear $1,2 million (K500 million) in damages for breach of contract.
Lilongwe High Court Judge Ken Manda made the determination last week following an application by the Nomads.
Both Wanderers general secretary David Kanyenda, who doubles as the club’s legal adviser, and Nsejjere’s country director Jacob Chikoya confirmed the news in an interview at the weekend.
Said Kanyenda: “Justice Manda has set aside the order and nowhere in the initial default judgement was reference made to the Wear $1,2 million (K500 million).
“Actually, it has transpired that the court did not assess the quantum of damages at all. Reference to the Wear $1,2 million (K500 million) was, therefore, alarmist and a gross misrepresentation of facts.
“The matter will now proceed for mediation on May 20 and we shall vigorously contest the proceedings as well as prosecute our counter claim.”
He also said for the avoidance of doubt, the Nomads will not don Nsejjere kit.
“We would rather be associated with renowned brands such as Puma, Adiddas, Nike and so forth,” said Kanyenda.
But while confirming the court’s decision to set aside the order, Chikoya expressed ignorance of Kanyenda’s claims that the matter will proceed for mediation.
“Yes, it is true, Wanderers applied for a stay order that was granted by the court, but as for mediation, I am not aware about that.
“Our lawyer [Moses Nkhono] has not informed me anything pertaining to that. So, I do not think that is true,” said Chikoya.
Efforts to get hold of Nkhono on Sunday proved futile.
Last month, the court is reported to have ordered the Nomads to pay damages equivalent to the value of 20 000 T-shirts at $10 each for the seven-year duration of the contract [which was about K528 million then].
Nsejjere sued Nomads in October last year, seeking damages in excess of $1.5 million [about K480 million] for breach of contract.
