The Dube Birds, who have since sold their topflight status to Marumo Gallants, were dragged to the DRC by striker Dumisani Zuma through his attorney arguing non-payment for his signing-on fee as well the December 2023 salary.

Zuma was among 22 players dismissed for misconduct by Swallows at the beginning of last year for having gone on strike prior to their then DStv Premiership fixture against Mamelodi Sundowns.

The saga forced the club to also cancel another match a few days later against Golden Arrows, later forfeiting six points and being fined R1-million, with R600 000 suspended for 24 months.

But Zuma approached the DRC recently hoping it would rule in his favour for an amount around R300 000 for his salary for the month in question as well as the pre-agreed signing-on fee when he joined Swallows.

He claimed damages for a breach of contract.

Following an exhaustive process, the conclusion was that the player could not prove that the club repudiated on his contract and therefore Zuma was indeed dismissed fairly according to the NSL handbook.

SABC Sport has also seen proof that Zuma was partly paid for the days he “worked” in December before the controversy around the two matches and subsequent disciplinary hearings that led to dismissals of 22 players.

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But where Swallows were found guilty was on the matter regarding the signing-on fee, although there was no deadline for payment between the two parties – just that it would be paid during the course of the 2023-24 season.

The DRC ruled that Swallows, pay the player a sum of R200 000 a responsibility that will now be carried by Gallants as the new owners of the franchise having agreed to the sale with all its liabilities.

Finished Afghanistan vs West Indies in United Arab Emirates T20I Series