The rising cases of coaches demanding their dues from Castle Lager Premier Soccer League clubs are becoming a threat to the existence of the current set up of the PSL.
There are three cases on Ngezi Platinum Stars' door and another on the doorstep of Caps United and there is a strong possibility that more are to follow.
We are not soothsayers but what we know for sure is that the Bongani Mafu, Cosmos Zulu, Benjani Mwaruwari and Fungai Kwashi cases are just a tip of the iceberg and that more shocking cases are to come.
The cases might not only involve coaches but also players who now know that there is an avenue to get what they are owed after the Evans Gwekwerere experience and the story of the Brazilians at Yadah.
The danger in this whole scene is that there is no timeframe — going back — as to when a claim can be built from — but that there is an obligation to pay as long as there are papers to prove that there was an agreement.
What we are now scared of is the threat of all PSL teams facing a flurry of such demands with the knowledge that some, if not most of them, will fold under the weight of such demands.
In fact, we are worried that the threat to our football is bigger than what we see as we are faced with the possibility of many of our clubs going down in the wake of these developments.
Imagine teams like Chegutu Pirates, Bulawayo Chiefs or Arenel Movers facing the magnitude of the demands that Ngezi are facing? Will they survive?
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Even right now, the future of Ngezi Platinum Stars remains uncertain with the claims by Mafa, Benjani, and Zulu, all running to close to $2 million.
The question is: What happens to the Mhondoro-Ngezi-based Madamburo should those who back them financially refuse to pay Mafa, Benjani and Zulu too, if they win their cases?
What we don't understand with the whole Ngezi case is whether the club leadership did not understand the terms of agreement they signed with Benjani and Mafa with regards to dismissal.
We were even told that Benjani's departure from Ngezi was by mutual consent. Surely, is this the mutual consent we were made to believe by the learned club leadership?
The other question is: Is Ngezi paying the price for an oversight on a contract that they drafted for their coach? Surely, in most cases, employers draft contracts in which they have an advantage over their employees.
Whatever the case is, what is happening at Ngezi is a warning to other football teams to be extra careful in the agreements they enter into not only with their coaches but also with their players.
It is also a warning for other clubs to honour the terms of the agreements they enter into with their coaches and players even those terms that do not involve finances.
It is also a warning to those clubs with outstanding matters with their coaches and players to settle those issues before they are forced to do so through means they cannot afford.
The solution should be for clubs to part ways with coaches in a way that allows a chance that one day they will work together again.
The question, however, is: Have our clubs learnt anything from the Ngezi Platinum Stars' experience ?
*For your views, comments, and suggestions, mkariati@gmail.com or WhatsApp on 0773 266 779
