Africa-Press – Namibia. FIFA this week ruled in favour of Brave Warriors striker Benson Shilongo who had terminated his contract with Egyptian club Ismailly in December, due to monies owed to him.
The South African football website soccerladuma.co.za reported nearly three months ago that Shilongo, after three months of chasing Ismailly for outstan ding payments, walked away and handed the matter to a lawyer.
Shilongo had not been paid since the start of the 2021/22 season, his SA-based agency Siyavuma Sports Group said. The matter went all the way to world governing body Fifa as it had become an employment dispute between the player and Ismailly.
Now, the good news for Shilongo is that this week the Dispute Resolution Chamber in Zurich ruled in his favour and ordered the North African outfit to settle the debt, with interest, or risk a transfer ban for three consecutive seasons.
Ismailly won’t want to risk that, although there’s been a growing trend in the Egyptian Premier League of non-payment, especially involving the club. Zambian player Justin Shonga also requested his contract with Ismailly be terminated around the same time as Shilongo – he has not been paid since joining them in October last year.
Contacted for comment, SS Group confirmed the Fifa victory. “It is great news for Benson and there could have only been one decision. To go all that time without money and the conditions on top takes courage,” the agency said.
“However, we followed the Fifa procedure on non-payments to the maximum and subsequently the only decision that could have been reached was forthcoming. Benson is a free agent, so he can sign outside of the window – he has scored a lot of goals in Egypt and there has been lots of interest. We will see now where his next move will be, both short term and long term.”
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