Trident FC have been ordered to pay K1.4 Million to their former head coach Albert Kachinga and his assistant coach Joseph Musonda.
Kachinga and Musonda will get around K778,000 and K595,000 respectively for the termination of their contracts ‘without just cause’.
This is according to the FAZ Players Status Committee ruling made available to the ZamFoot Crew.
👉The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Players Status Committee has ruled in favour of former Trident FC head coach Albert Kachinga and assistant coach Joseph Musonda, ordering the Total pay to the duo K1,375,750.
Breakdown of Payments:
👉- Head Coach Albert Kachinga: K778,750
👉- Assistant Coach Joseph Musonda: K595,000
Background:
The FAZ Players Status Committee found Trident FC liable for terminating the contracts of Kachinga and
Musonda without just cause.
BELOW IS A FULL STATEMENT FROM FAWUZ ON THE MATTER
Trident FC Ordered to Pay Former Coaches Albert Kachinga and Joseph Musonda K1.4 Million
TRIDENT FC will pay a total of almost K1.4 million to the former head coach and his assistant after being found
guilty of wrongful termination of contracts by the FAZ Players Status and Transfer Committee (PSC).
This is contained in a ruling in a case in which the Footballers and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (FAWUZ) successfully represented Coach Albert Kachinga and his assistant Joseph Musonda after Trident FC contracts terminated “without just cause”.
Facts before the FAZ PSC were that Kachinga had signed a 1 year and nine months on 5th October, 2023 which
was due to run until 30 July 2025.
However, Trident FC terminated the contract on 11th March, 2024 over alleged poor performance and further refused to pay the affected coaches their dues for the remainder of their contract terms and as such filed a case before the FAZ PSC through FAWUZ.
In their ruling of 5th September, 2024, the PSC found that Trident FC’s decision to terminate the duo’s contracts
was without Just Cause.
“It was agreed that the termination of the contract of the Complainant as a coach did not fall within the realm of Just Cause as stipulated under the Rules for the employment of Coaches as contained in Annex 8 of the FIFA Regulations and Transfer of Players,” the Ruling read in part.
“It was agreed that Trident Football Club was in breach of Clause 3 of the aforesaid Annex which provides as follows: A contract may only be terminated upon expiry of its term or by mutual agreement.”
The Committee established that Trident FC terminated the contract “Without Just Cause” and the Complainant had not signed any other contract with any club since the termination.
It was decided that the club compensates the Complainant pursuant to clause 6 (a)of Annex B aforementioned that stated that in the event that the coach did not sign any new contract following the termination of their previous contract, as a general rule, the compensation shall be equal to the residual value of the contract that was
prematurely terminated.
“It is therefore decided that the Respondent (Trident FC) shall compensate the Complainant the total sum of K595,000 only for the period of 17 months which is equal to the residual value of the Contract that was prematurely terminated. It was decided that the Respondent shall be paid K183,750 as anticipated 25 per cent
annual gratuity,” the FAZ PSTC ruled, with the total payment for Kachinga being K778,7750.
Musonda was also awarded a total of K595,000 broken down into K448,000 for a period of 17 months equal to the residual on the contract and K147,000 as anticipated 25 per cent annual gratuity in the same case.
Welcoming the ruling, FAWUZ General Secretary Joe Kaunda said the Union was elated with the positive judgment that confirmed the commitment towards serving its membership in seeking justice.
“Many a time, our members have just walked away from injustice after unjustified dismissals. But I want to urge them to seek justice through the Union as we will fight for them to get their money and whatever dues they are owed,” Kaunda said.
“We also want to urge the club administrators to understand the FIFA statutes and regulations so that they make
sound and informed decisions in cases of separation and termination of contracts because clubs may suffer serious
sanctions from both FAZ and also FIFA for such avoidable breaches.”
And in a related matter, FAWUZ has appealed an earlier ruling on 1st November, 2024 by the FAZ PSTC against
Donewell Yobe whose contract was terminated based on poor performance which included maintaining his then
Solwezi based team in the premier league.
“We find it rather shocking that the PSTC ruled against Yobe and their justification to do so. The Kachinga and Musonda Vs Trident case is an identical case as the Yobe Vs Kansanshi Dynamos FC where FIFA does guide that you can only terminate a coach’s contract upon expiry of term or mutual separation and not based on performance,” said Kaunda.
“We will ensure that we fight it until justice is served.”
