…wants justice over $1.1m awarded to Asanovic for wrongful dismissal
By MICHAEL MIYOBA
THE Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) says it has engaged FIFA to ensure that justice prevail in a case where the local soccer governing body has been directed to pay former Chipolopolo coach Aljosa Asanovic $1.1 million for wrongful dismissal.
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The world soccer governing body arrived at the decision earlier this month after Asanovic filed a complaint for wrongful dismissal from his Chipolopolo job.
FAZ General Secretary Reuben Kamanga said FIFA has notified the association of the decision of the matter presided over by a single judge.
Kamanga said FAZ doesn’t owe the former Chipolopolo gaffer as it met all its obligations to the Croatian who abandoned his post in unclear circumstances.
“We wish to confirm that FIFA has informed FAZ of its decision to award damages to Mr Aljosa Asanovic who reported the association to FIFA after having abandoned his post in unclear circumstances,” said Kamanga.
“FAZ duly submitted its records of having paid Mr Asanovic his dues up to the point of his desertion. We attached all the evidence of payment in our counter claim, and it remains our hope that justice will be done.
Mr Asanovic was appointed under Zambian laws and was deemed to have deserted after having absconded work for more than 10 days in line with the law,” Kamanga said.
Kamanga said Asanovic’s contract was performance-based tied to qualification to the CHAN, AFCON and FIFA World Cup.
“FAZ has engaged FIFA on the matter and will be exploring various ways to ensure that the decision is reversed as FAZ had met all its obligations to Mr Asanovic,” Kamanga said.
“FAZ appointed Asanovic on January 18, 2022, but the Croatian unilaterally terminated his contract on September 22, 2022, after having abandoned his station on September 30 in the aftermath of Zambia losing 1-0 at home to Mozambique to be dumped out of the African Nations Championship campaign,” he added.
In September last year, Asanovic through his lawyers gave FAZ notice of termination of his contract as Chipolopolo coach and threatened to report the association to FIFA if he was not paid his dues in ten days.
Asanovic alleged that FAZ was owing him US$40, 000 an amount the association rejected as it claimed that the coach was paid all his dues before he terminated his contract as Chipolopolo coach.
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