Medeama assistant coach Stephen Abugri has hailed the Ghana FA for punishing Hearts after theyà wrongfullyà terminated the contract of David Duncan.
The Status Committee of the Ghana Football Association slapped the huge fine on the Accra-based side last Thursday after the coach had reported the club to the federation claiming unlawful dismissal.
Abugri, who guided King Faisal back to the Ghanaian top-flight but was sacked under controversial circumstances, has praised authorities for handing out the heavy punishment against the former African champions.
ââ¬ÅGhanaian football administrators have taken us for a ride for far too longâ⬠Abugri is quoted by Radio XYZ ââ¬ÅThey have no respect for (we) the local Coaches. If you are on a contract and there is termination, they donââ¬â¢t show any respect to the contract and they fire you without the right compensationââ¬
ââ¬ÅI took King Faisal, when they were in a very poor state. I brought them back into the Premier League two years later and my biggest reward was a sackââ¬
ââ¬ÅThey just kicked me out for no reason.
ââ¬ÅThe status committee has done a great job and if I were in my hometown I would have bought them a live cow.
ââ¬ÅTheir verdict was done without fear or favour and that is highly commendable.
ââ¬ÅGhanaian Coaches also deserve better conditions of service and I pray that the verdict will serve as a deterrent to other club owners in Ghana.ââ¬
It is the biggest compensation pay-off for anyone in the history of the local league which is likely to have an effect on future erratic sacking coaches in the in Ghanaian top-flight.
Theà Status Committee upheld the view of the trainer that he was illegally dismissed without the necessary compensation due him when he was fired by the former African champions.
The Phobians were also slapped with a GHc 5,000 fine over the conduct of their lawyers after they failed to appear before the committee in a previous sitting.
They have two weeks to pay the fine or could be docked points if they fail to meet the deadline set by the GFA.