Zimbabwean giants Highlanders FC may face sanctions after their decision to ditch and replace SA coach Thabo Senong in a huff. A sports lawyer reveals potential consequences of the shocking decision.
Highlanders FC made a shocking U-turn after appointing Thabo Senong as coach on a two-year contract in early January. Senong’s tenure was cut short when he discovered ‘permit issues’ coincided with the club’s plans to appoint Benjani Mwaruwari as head coach. In truth, Senong’s exit raises concerns about the club’s leadership and could have serious repercussions.
ZIFA’S CASE WITH TOM SAINTFIET IN 2010
However, this isn’t the first time a foreign coach has been left high and dry in Zimbabwe due to underlying issues masquerading as work permit problems.
In October 2010, Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet [currently Mali head coach] was deported just a day after being appointed Warriors coach for violating immigration laws by training the team without a work permit.
He had signed a four-year deal, but it ended abruptly due to his lack of a work permit, echoing Senong’s recent experience with Highlanders FC. Saintfiet took ZIFA to FIFA and won the case, resulting in ZIFA being ordered to pay his salaries.
HIGHLANDERS RISKS MASSIVE FIFA SANCTIONS IF SENONG TAKES THE FIFA ROUTE
A top Zimbabwean lawyer, familiar with Highlanders FC, warns the club could face massive FIFA sanctions if they don’t fully compensate Thabo Senong, citing they have already inconvenienced him.
“This situation is akin to the 2010 Tom Saintfiet case against ZIFA, also involving immigration officials in his deportation. Now, Senong has a case that could cost the club. First, appointing another coach while he was still engaged is a clear breach of agreement.
“Termination clauses in contracts do differ, as do the compensation terms for abrupt termination. In certain circumstances, a club will be obligated to fully compensate his salaries and sign-on fees. So if Highlanders fail to negotiate a settlement properly given what they did, they risk severe FIFA sanctions, as FIFA won’t hesitate to take action.
“Highlanders’ actions set a damaging precedent, harming the club’s reputation. And Senong will be justified in taking the case to FIFA, given the circumstances.”
In a recent interview with Metro FM, Senong revealed that he is in talks to settle with the Bulawayo-side. However, FARPost understands the club is mulling giving the former Lesotho coach one month’s salary.
“We’re actually in the process of a contract termination letter that involves settlement and everything, just getting all my stuff back. But I wasn’t threatened, just inconvenienced.”
SENONG STILL DISAPPOINTED
The former Sekhukhune United coach, Senong is still puzzled by Highlanders FC’s decision, claiming he was a victim of dishonesty and was forced to leave the country abruptly due to work permit issues with immigration authorities.
After returning to South Africa, the club appointed Mwaruwari as head coach and offered Senong an assistant coach role, which he rejected.
“So, for me, it was disappointing from the management for them to expect that now I just need to shift roles. Mind you, I have no issues with any position in a football organisation,” Senong said.
“I still respect the assistant role position and also the technical director position, but this is not how things initially started. And I just felt that it was unfair for me now to readjust and take a different role so that the executive and the financial backers of the club can be happy.”
RELATED STORY: ‘Highlanders lied to me’: Thabo Senong on dramatic Zimbabwe exit