National Sports

Fired Malawi coaches seeks legal redress

Silver Strikers and Escom United’s penchant for firing and hiring has landed them in legal battles with their ex-coaches Thom Mkorongo and Charles Manda, respectively.

Sacked despite taking Silver to TNM Super League’s first-round top finish, Mkorongo on Monday took the Bankers to the Lilongwe Industrial Relations Court for unfair dismissal. 

Silver’s lawyer Thabo Chakaka-Nyirenda confirmed on Tuesday challenging the taking of the case to an industrial court instead of the High Court.

Fifa is against taking football matters to court of law.

“We were indeed in court yesterday. We made an application to dismiss the case on account of want jurisdiction as the contract between Silver and the coach was that of service independent contract and not employee,” said Chakaka-Nyirenda.

The case has been adjourned to November 19 for determination on Silver’s submission.

For Escom, the suspension of coach Manda and his assistants McDonald Mtetemera and Aubrey Nankhuni nearly ended in court.

While Mtetemera and Nankhuni are impatiently waiting for Escom’s position on their employment, Manda, through his undisclosed lawyer, wrote the ‘Electricians’ demanding his dues.

Manda confirmed on Monday that he had salary arrears issues with Escom, but ruled out any prospect of rejoining the team.

Escom chairperson Fanuel Nkhono confirmed that Manda had sought legal help.

“We sat down with his lawyer and agreed to pay him [Manda]. We made the first payment and we are supposed to make another disbursement. It is not necessarily an out-of-court settlement,” Nkhono explained.

In separate interviews on Monday, Mtetemera and Nankhuni said they were waiting for Escom to state if the duo has been fired.

“They never wrote to us about our suspension. It was just by word of mouth. If it is dismissal, then we are supposed to be given three months’ salary,” said Mtetemera.

Super League of Malawi has no arbitration channels for coaches, but between clubs and players, said vice-general secretary Thoko Chazema.

FAM chief executive officer Suzgo Nyirenda could not comment on the matter on Tuesday as he said he was at a funeral.

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