Shabana FC have suffered a major legal setback after the Employment and Labour Relations Court ruled that the club unlawfully terminated the contract of former head coach Sammy 'Pamzo' Omollo, ordering the Glamour Boys to compensate him more than Ksh2.2 million for unfair dismissal.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsThe ruling brings to an end a dispute that has dragged on since October 2024, when the Kisii-based club parted ways with Omollo despite the former Harambee Stars defender having overseen one of the club's most successful spells in recent years.##NAJAVA_MECA_9868161##Omollo moved to court accusing Shabana of constructively dismissing him and breaching the terms of his employment contract after he was stripped of his coaching duties before eventually resigning. The club denied the claims and filed a counterclaim, arguing that Omollo remained registered as Shabana's head coach on the FIFA Connect portal even after joining a rival team, conduct it claimed exposed the club to possible sanctions from FKF and FIFA.However, the court rejected Shabana's arguments, noting that the FIFA Connect portal is controlled by the club and not the coach, meaning Omollo had no authority to remove or update his registration.Shock as Omanyala's Commonwealth Games title defense goes up in smokeWhile acknowledging that it was improper for Omollo to appear for another club while still listed as Shabana's coach on the FIFA Connect system, the judge held that the responsibility lay with Shabana, who had failed to update the records despite controlling the platform.The court further found that the club's counterclaim lacked merit, observing that Shabana had all the necessary mechanisms to address the matter but instead chose to wait for Omollo to face possible sanctions or ostracisation from football authorities."The counterclaim is dismissed with no order as to costs," the court ruled.##NAJAVA_MECA_9868149##In delivering its judgment, the court also criticised the manner in which Shabana treated the coach, describing him as one of the club's most successful managers in the modern era."The Respondent treated a successful coach, arguably one of the most successful coaches of Shabana FC in the modern-day era, poorly. He deserved a more humane approach," the judge observed.Having found that Omollo was constructively, unfairly and unlawfully dismissed, the court awarded him: Ksh1.6 million, equivalent to 10 months' salary, as compensation for constructive, unfair and unlawful termination. CONFIRMED: AFC Leopards re-sign midfielder seven years after departureHe was also awarded Ksh160,000 in lieu of one month's notice, Ksh318,000 in unpaid house allowance, Ksh75,000 in salary arrears for June 2023, and a further Ksh85,000 in salary arrears for September 2024. In addition, the court ordered Shabana FC to pay the costs of the suit together with interest on the monetary award until payment is made in full.The monetary award totals Ksh2,238,000, excluding court-awarded costs and interest.Kenyan forward bags brace to revive Tanzanian club's hopes of retaining CECAFA Kagame Cup
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