News / Local
'Peter Ndlovu not entitled to any signing on fees'
06 Feb 2013 at 00:12hrs | Views
TWALUMBA Holdings owner Dr Nkululeko Sibanda yesterday said former Warriors captain Peter Ndlovu was not entitled to any signing on fees because he refused to sign a football contract with Highfield United after signing a Memorandum of Agreement.
He said what they signed with Ndlovu was a forerunner paving way for a football contract he was supposed to sign after he had persuaded him to come out of retirement.
Ndlovu has dragged his former employers to court claiming US$55 000 in unpaid signing on fees.
"This agreement was drawn up by people who are not educated at law, but what we intended to do was to register Peter for Highfield United and that soccer contract was never signed. Peter did not sign a soccer contract.
"He was entitled to signing on fees upon signing a soccer contract," said Dr Sibanda, who was giving evidence in his company's defence case.
Asked if Ndlovu was registered by Zifa Northern region to play for Highfield United, Dr Sibanda said he was not registered because he refused to sign a soccer contract.
Dr Sibanda who referred to the former Warriors skipper as a brother and fellow tribesman conceded that Ndlovu played some friendly matches for Highfield United.
He said Ndlovu trained with the team but denied that he played a competitive match for his team.
He said Ndlovu had refused to sign a contract after agreeing among other things that Twalumba Holdings would organise his testimonial match.
"We had other commercial agreements. One of them was for a testimonial match for him which we were supposed to arrange for him.
"He was also supposed to go to Binga to insipire talented youths there whom, according to his words, did not have the opportunity to be seen," he said.
Mr Pardon Makuwaza, Dr Sibanda's lawyer, asked Ndlovu if anyone could feature in a friendly game.
Peter replied: "Being the brand that I am I would not play without a contract unless if it is for charity."
Ndlovu said he did not play for Highfield United bacause he was loaned to Black Mambas.
"If you did not play in the league what signing on fees are you entitled to?" asked Mr Makuwaza.
Ndlovu said he was entitled to signing on fees by merely signing the contract.
Asked if he would not be unjustly enriched if he was to be paid without executing his duties Ndlovu said, "When you are saying unjustly are you saying to me my signature was nothing? I added my value to Highfield with my brand name."
Peter also denied the assertion that he would have been entitled to signing on fees if he had not refused to sign the football contract saying he never refused to sign one and he had fulfilled his obligations.
Earlier Ndlovu's agent, Mr Winston Makamure, who was being led by Ndlovu's lawyer Mr Harrison Nkomo said signing on fees was a token extended for signing a contract.
"The minute you sign a contract it is due to you depending on arrangements it can be staggered and it can be paid in one form or the other," he said.
He said there was no standard for a football contract.
He said what they signed with Ndlovu was a forerunner paving way for a football contract he was supposed to sign after he had persuaded him to come out of retirement.
Ndlovu has dragged his former employers to court claiming US$55 000 in unpaid signing on fees.
"This agreement was drawn up by people who are not educated at law, but what we intended to do was to register Peter for Highfield United and that soccer contract was never signed. Peter did not sign a soccer contract.
"He was entitled to signing on fees upon signing a soccer contract," said Dr Sibanda, who was giving evidence in his company's defence case.
Asked if Ndlovu was registered by Zifa Northern region to play for Highfield United, Dr Sibanda said he was not registered because he refused to sign a soccer contract.
Dr Sibanda who referred to the former Warriors skipper as a brother and fellow tribesman conceded that Ndlovu played some friendly matches for Highfield United.
He said Ndlovu trained with the team but denied that he played a competitive match for his team.
He said Ndlovu had refused to sign a contract after agreeing among other things that Twalumba Holdings would organise his testimonial match.
"We had other commercial agreements. One of them was for a testimonial match for him which we were supposed to arrange for him.
"He was also supposed to go to Binga to insipire talented youths there whom, according to his words, did not have the opportunity to be seen," he said.
Mr Pardon Makuwaza, Dr Sibanda's lawyer, asked Ndlovu if anyone could feature in a friendly game.
Peter replied: "Being the brand that I am I would not play without a contract unless if it is for charity."
Ndlovu said he did not play for Highfield United bacause he was loaned to Black Mambas.
"If you did not play in the league what signing on fees are you entitled to?" asked Mr Makuwaza.
Ndlovu said he was entitled to signing on fees by merely signing the contract.
Asked if he would not be unjustly enriched if he was to be paid without executing his duties Ndlovu said, "When you are saying unjustly are you saying to me my signature was nothing? I added my value to Highfield with my brand name."
Peter also denied the assertion that he would have been entitled to signing on fees if he had not refused to sign the football contract saying he never refused to sign one and he had fulfilled his obligations.
Earlier Ndlovu's agent, Mr Winston Makamure, who was being led by Ndlovu's lawyer Mr Harrison Nkomo said signing on fees was a token extended for signing a contract.
"The minute you sign a contract it is due to you depending on arrangements it can be staggered and it can be paid in one form or the other," he said.
He said there was no standard for a football contract.
Source - TH
