Bello takes Nomads to task over signing on fees

Nigerian striker Amos Bello has threatened to sue Be Forward Wanderers over outstanding K2.5 million signing-on fees.

The player has since sought advice from the High Court on how to proceed with the matter.

Bello and the Nomads’ vice-chairperson Gift Mkandawire confirmed the development in separate interviews yesterday.

The lanky striker said he is planning to sue the Nomads because he felt the club treated him unfairly by failing to honour the contractual agreements.

However, Mkandawire said the club paid Bello K700 000 (about $1 000) on Tuesday as part payment of the signing-on fee.

“I don’t think he would still be willing to take legal action now because we have paid him some money. Additionally, we have explained to him the financial challenges we are facing,” he said without committing as to when the balance will be settled.

But responding to Mkandawire’s explanation, Bello said: “I have been told that K700 000 has been deposited in my account but I have not verified that. Again I need the club to tell me when the balance will be paid. If I am not being told anything sensible then I will take  action which I can’t tell you now.”

Bello went to the High Court in Blantyre last Friday to seek advice on how he could start legal proceedings against the club.

Judiciary spokesperson Mlenga Mvula, who confirmed the development in an interview Tuesday, said the player complained that the club had not honoured its promise to pay the fee by May 31 this year.

“He brought his contract which shows that K1.5 million (about $2 100) was supposed to be paid in April and the balance in May. But he claimed not to have received a penny,” he said.

Mvula further said Bello also asked for advice on how he could hire a lawyer to file a case against the Nomads executive committee.

“Being a foreigner he doesn’t know the legal procedures so he asked how he could go about it. But I advised him that football matters cannot be taken to court until all avenues have been exhausted,” he said.

“I further asked him to officially lodge a complaint to Wanderers executive committee, explaining how failure to pay him was affecting his life.”

Mvula said Bello returned to the High Court on Monday to report that he has not been paid despite engaging the club’s leadership over the weekend.

“But I told him to give the club some time before taking further steps,” he said, adding: “I was not advising him as a Judiciary spokesperson, but as an individual. I thought he needed proper guidance.”

Mkandawire justified the club’s delay to pay the player’s outstanding dues arguing that the sponsorship is paid in instalments.