Former coach sues Tigers for unfair dismissal

Former Mighty Wakawaka Tigers coach Christopher Nyambose has sued the club at the Industrial Relations Court (IRC) for unlawful and unfair dismissal.

Tigers fired Nyambose in December, citing poor performance of the TNM Super League side which finished 11th in the just ended season and has since been replaced by Leo Mpulula.

However, the coach, who signed a three-year contract running from February 1 2023 to November 30 2025, feels he has been treated unfairly by the club and wants compensation, according to court documents.

Nyambose, through his lawyers Makiyi, Kanyenda & Associates accused Tigers of unlawful dismissal in contravention of the provision of sections 57 and 61 of the Employment Act.

Court documents read in part: “By a written and fixed term contract of employment, the applicant was employed by the responded as head coach affective February 1 2023 and expiring on November 30 2025.

“The applicant legitimately expected to remain in the respondent’s employ until expiration of his contract of employment.”

Nyambose says he expected to be fired only after legally prescribed procedures on contract termination are followed.

According to the court documents filed on January 5, Nyambose was never given a chance to defend himself as provided by labour laws of the country.

David Kanyenda a partner at Makiyi, Kanyenda & Associates, confirmed the development in an interview yesterday, saying Tigers were given 14 days to respond.

He said: “I can confirm that we received instructions from Mr Nyambose to commence proceedings against Tigers in order to recover his dues being the residual value of his three year contract translating into 24 months wages amongst other reliefs.”

Tigers chief executive officer Sydney Chikoti said they are yet to be served.

He said: “I just heard that that he was intending to do so. But I didn’t know that he went ahead.”

Recently, former Flames coach Meck Mwase, who was also represented by Makiyi, Kanyenda & Associates, successfully sued Football Association of Malawi for unlawful dismissal and won the case.