Sailesi rebuffs K19M from FIFA
Former Flames winger Dalitso Sailesi has rebuffed an $11 000 (about K19 million) compensation from Fifa for breach of contract by liquidated Zambian club Lusaka Dynamos, arguing that it is on the lower side.
Initially in 2019, the world football governing body, through its dispute resolution chamber, ordered the Lusaka-based outfit to pay the former FCB Nyasa Bullets midfielder $128 675 (then about K95.2 million).
But after Dynamos were declared bankrupt in March 2023, Sailesi’s representative Felix Ngamanya Sapao, through Fifpro, asked Fifa to consider compensating the player through its Fifa Fund for Football Players.
In an interview yesterday, the player’s representative confirmed receipt of communication from Fifa.
Said Sapao: “Following the liquidation of Lusaka Dynamos, we had no choice but to ask Fifa to consider compensating the player through their players’ fund and they have approved payment of $11 000.
“Unfortunately, Sailesi says he cannot accept the money because he feels it is too little and could push for more which is very unfortunate as he could end up getting nothing. I have tried to reason with him, but to no avail.”
He further said as per a signed agreement with the player, he is supposed to get a 10 percent cut while Desmond Maringwa of the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe is supposed to get a 15 percent cut.
Sapao said they had to go through the Zimbabwe Footballers Union because Malawi does not have one that is recognised and registered with Fifa.
Part of the Power of Attorney agreement dated September 1 2018, purportedly signed by Sailesi, reads in part: “I, Dalitso Sailesi, with Malawian nationality [passport number: MA187970] born on the 13th of October 1995 do hereby nominate and appoint Mr Desmond Maringwa of the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe to be my lawful legal representative in front of Fifa Dispute Resolution Chamber and Court of Arbitration for Sport [CAS] in relation to the employment-related dispute I have against the Zambian club, Lusaka Dynamos Football Club.”
Sailesi could not be reached for comment yesterday.
But Football Players Association chairperson Jimmy Zakazaka said they engaged Sailesi on the issue and he has softened up.
“What he could not understand was how the amount came down to $11 000 (about K19 million), but we explained to and we appear to be on the same page. I am hopeful that it will be sorted out,” he said
In 2022, Football Association of Zambia banned Dynamos from playing in the Zambia Premier League for failing to comply with a Fifa verdict to pay Sailesi K95 million for breach of contract.
FAZ then said in a statement signed by its communication officer Sydney Mungala that Lusaka Dynamos would not be awarded a licence to participate in the top-flight league until it paid Sailesi and other players.
