Nairobi News

By DAVID KWALIMWA

Former Sofapaka coach Sam Timbe has reported the club to the world football governing body Fifa over unpaid dues amounting to Sh2 million.

According to Ugandan website kawowo.com, the soft spoken coach, who is currently handling Police FC, has written a letter to Fifa seeking the body’s intervention in the matter.

In a letter dated December 16, 2015; addressed to The Chairman Players’ Status Committee Department of Players’ Status and Governance Federation of International Football Associations and signed by his personal manager Muhammad M Dhakaba, Timbe states that the club owned by Congolese businessman Elly Kalekwa owes him $ 15,000 (Sh1.5 million) in salaries and an extra $ 5,000 (Sh500,000) as part of the sign on fees, the website has reported.

“We, seek to interest your office in a matter where Sofapaka FC – one of the football clubs featuring in the Kenya Premier League (KPL) – hired Mr Timbe in August 2013, on a two-year term, to guide the same club, as head coach, in various competitions, within and outside Kenya,” the letter by the four-time Cecafa Kagame Cup winning coach reads in part.

CASH-STRAPPED

“However, as agreed upon term came to an end on August 27, 2015, Sofapaka had not paid Mr Timbe his salary for three months, dating to June, 2015. Mr Timbe was entitled to a monthly pay of $5,000 (Sh 500,000) which makes a total of $15,000 (Sh1.5 million). In addition the club owes Mr Timbe $5000 (Sh500,000) which is a balance on an agreed upon signing fee, bringing the total to $20,000 (Sh2 million) which figure is acknowledged by both parties.”

The cash-strapped club has reportedly admitted the debt, but Timbe says his efforts to be amicably paid have not yielded fruits, hence his move to seek Fifa’s intervention.

Timbe becomes the second Ugandan to report Sofapaka to Fifa over salary arrears after fellow countryman Herman Wasswa, formerly of KCCA, left the club three months into his contract and reported the club to the world football governing body.