Berekum Chelsea to pay Van der Pluijm over GH¢500,000

The Player Status Committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has ordered Berekum Chelsea to pay their former coach, Hans van der Pluijm, a staggering $154,000 and another GH¢61,000 (totalling over GH¢500,000 at the prevailing exchange rate) within two weeks or risk expulsion from the First Capital Plus Premier League.

It is the second most prominent ruling by the GFA sub-committee to exact justice for aggrieved coaches coming on the heels of a GH¢82,000 award to former Accra Hearts of Oak coach, David Duncan, for unlawful dismissal last November.

But in terms of the sheer magnitude of the amount involved, Dutchman van der Pluijm, who has since acquired a Ghanaian nationality, is guaranteed a jackpot.

The FA decision follows a case of flagrant breach of contractual obligations brought before the committee on behalf of the coach by Ashford Tettey-Oku,whose company, Offside Consult, demanded and secured the ruling in favour of the coach.

Even though Mr Tettey-Oku declined comment on the matter when contacted, sources revealed that the fine imposed on Chelsea was as a result of what the committee described as “aggravated breaches”.

The breaches covered outstanding salaries, monthly allowances and the coach’s share of the prize money Chelsea received from their participation in the Africa Champions League in 2012.

Aside that, an agreement the club had with the coach which entitled him a share of proceeds from the transfer of Chelsea players had also been breached.

However, a further claim by van der Pluijm for commercial interest on the principal sum was rejected by the committee on grounds of magnanimity.