Ngezi Platinum Stars, a former champion club, has been directed by FIFA to compensate Benjani Mwaruwari, their former head coach, nearly US$600K for unfair dismissal. This ruling comes as a major setback for the club, which has been grappling with internal and external challenges.
Background of the Case against Ngezi Platinum
Benjani Mwaruwari, a renowned former striker for Manchester City and Portsmouth, was appointed as the head coach of Ngezi Platinum Stars in 2022. This role marked his first venture into top-flight coaching after retiring from his illustrious playing career. However, his tenure was short-lived, lasting only 12 weeks before he was dismissed alongside his assistant, Bongani Mafu.
The dismissal was primarily attributed to poor performance on the field, with the team securing only three wins, six draws, and four defeats in the 13 matches under Mwaruwari’s leadership. Despite these results, Mwaruwari argued that he was not given sufficient time to implement his strategies and vision for the team.
Club ordered to pay Benjani Mwaruwari US$600K-Image Source@Image Source@Newsday
Seeking justice, Mwaruwari and Mafu took their case to FIFA, the world’s governing body for football. Initially, FIFA ruled that Ngezi Platinum Stars must pay Mafu nearly US$200,000. In a subsequent ruling, the organization has now ordered the club to compensate Benjani close to US$600K.
This decision underscores FIFA’s commitment to ensuring fair treatment of coaches and players, emphasizing the importance of due process and adequate time for coaches to prove their mettle.
Mwaruwari on his dismissal
In various interviews, Mwaruwari has expressed his disappointment with how his tenure at Ngezi Platinum Stars ended. He believes he was on the right track and needed more time to execute his plans.
“In my view, I think I did well at Ngezi Platinum Stars, but football is a game of numbers. What I wanted to do didn’t materialize,” he stated.
He further elaborated that if the club had given him more time, he would have produced more favourable results as the club coach.
