Drago drags five clubs to FIFA
Koketso Kgoboge | Friday September 11, 2020 13:13
Alongside Wanderers, the Serbian coach revealed he would be dragging Mochudi Centre Chiefs, Sankoyo Bush Bucks, Notwane and Extension Gunners who also owe him.
He said the other clubs owe him monies amounting to P400, 000.
“I have sent all the documents of my debts from these clubs, and Morupule (Wanderers) to my legal advisers in Serbia. They are preparing to file a case with FIFA,” Drago said.
“I didn’t want to go to FIFA because it is not good for Botswana’s football image. I delayed a long time with others because I thought they would settle the debt, but they are not forthcoming, and I have no choice.” Drago said he was challenging Wanderers for unfair dismissal and failure to fulfill contractual obligations. He said the club defaulted in payments and ignored other contractual agreements such as the P1,000 fuel allowance and the P400 airtime allowance that were never fulfilled since he joined the BTC Premiership side.
He said the club wanted to terminate his contract without paying. Drago said he was last paid in July. His contract with Wanderers expires next year July.
“I have asked that they pay at least six months of the remaining contract and then we part amicably, and they did not agree,” he said.
He said the club called him to stop training back in March just before the coronavirus outbreak halted all sporting activities, as they were not satisfied with the results.
He said they had an agreement in a meeting at the time that if they were to part, the club would pay six months of his contract.
He then left the club and travelled to Gaborone to attend to his ailing wife.
At the time he said he had no money and sold his belongings in Palapye to the club so that he could buy a flight ticket for his wife to return to Serbia for medical attention.
“I could not afford medical fees here because I did not have medical insurance and the club knew about it. I had to sell my stuff to the club chairperson (Nelson Kgosipheko) below market price so that I could buy a ticket for my wife to return home,” he said.
A month later, while in Gaborone, Drago said he received a letter from Wanderers that required he return to Palapye to face a disciplinary hearing. “I could not go because of travel restrictions then, and they had told me they wanted to terminate the contract and I didn’t know why then the disciplinary hearing,” he said.
Drago felt the clubs in the country had cheated him enough. “I have served the best I can, and it is sad it ends in this way. But we will see how it ends with FIFA. I am going back home, and I don’t know if I will come back.”
Efforts to reach club chairperson, Nelson Kgosipheko were futile as he did not return calls nor respond to messages.
In a related case, Keitumetse ‘Pio’ Paul has taken Notwane and Sharps Shooting Stars to FIFA.
Paul, however, declined to comment on the matter. “I am not ready to say anything regarding those issues at the moment,” the national Under-20 coach said.
Meanwhile, Wanderers has put out an advert looking for a new coach. The side has been heavily linked with former Security Systems coach, Daniel ‘Chico’ Nare.
Amongst other names linked with Basimane Ba Magala, as the Palapye outfit is affectionately known, are Blessing Moyo and Paul.