‘Ungrateful’ Tusker risk Fifa wrath over failure to pay disgruntled players
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League champions are in the news for all the wrong reasons after ‘verbally’ releasing 11 players contrary to Fifa rules.
The affected players, who played an integral part in the just league season, were deemed surplus to requirements and coach Robert Matano reportedly informed them he had no intentions of using them.
Matano would leave the players in Nairobi as the rest of the team traveled to the Coast for pre-season ahead of 2021/2022 Caf Africa Champions League season.
The club officials then informed the players – by word of mouth – that they are free to look for other clubs.
“The club officials summoned us to Ruaraka on Monday and told us we can look for other teams and then come for release letters. They said we are not part of the club’s plans going forward but they won’t terminate our contracts unless we request for the same,” one of the players told Nairobi News.
“They do not want to pay us the money they should for terminating our contracts, which is very unfortunate because we have given everything for this club during our time here,” another player added.
“Basically, the termination should be coming from the team. When they employed us, we signed a written contract. So, why are they refusing to tell us in writing that our services are no longer required?” posed another player, who said he is contemplating legal action.
Nairobi News has since established the club’s contract has a clear clause on termination which requires either party to give two months’ notice in writing or pay an equivalent of two months in lieu of notice for termination.
The released players include Luke Namanda, Mike Madoya and Chris Ochieng’.
Others are Chrispinus Onyango, Rodgers Aloro, Brian Marita, Faraj Ominde, custodian Robert Mboya, Sammy Meja, and Eric Ambunya.