Brazilian Geovanni Rodriguez trains at the City Stadium in Nairobi in January 2013. PHOTO/MICHEZOAFRIKA
NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 4 – Brazilian striker Giovanni Rodriguez has taken Premier League champions Gor Mahia to FIFA for wrongful dismissal, three years after he was dropped by then coach Zdravko Logarusic amidst much fanfare that characterized his arrival at the club in January 2013.
In documents obtained by Capital Sport, the striker through his lawyer in a case presented to the FIFA players’ status committee in Zurich says he was dismissed from the team despite having a running contract, signed by both parties; club and player.
According to the contract, Rodriguez was set to be one of the highest paid players in the Kenyan Premier League then, with a monthly salary of 1,500 USD (Sh150,000 in the current exchange rate) and a monthly house allowance of 250 USD (Sh25,000 in the current exchange rate).
He also had an agreement of a Sh5,000 win allowance as well as transport to and from training as well as medical cover.
Gor Mahia Secretary General Ronald Ngala has confirmed that the club has been served with the papers and says they will look at them and take appropriate action.
“I was called by the federation and told there is such a letter. I believe they have been taken to the chairman’s office and we will look at them then make a decision on what to be done,” Ngala told Capital Sport.
He has admitted that the player who was chided by Logarusic over his fitness indeed had a valid contract with the club, which Capital Sport is privy to.
“We had some agreement with him, that is true, but he was dismissed in quite a haphazard manner because the coach insisted he cannot use him. As at now, we can’t say much. Let’s just study the letter and the demands and make a decision,” Ngala added.
In FIFA’s letter to Gor, the players’ status committee has asked the club to explain with documented evidence why they released the player without both parties having an agreement.
Rodriguez had played for Sheikh Jamal of Bangladesh, Rio Brangco Soccer Club and Atletico PR both of Brazil.
