As the scent of jasmine and the sound of laughter echoes through the lush landscapes of Blyde Riverwalk Estate, amidst the shimmering waters of a crystal-clear lagoon and the luxurious embrace of a private beach, former Dynamos star Evans Gwekwerere is basking in the honeymoon glow with his new wife, Natasha Kaira Green.
The couple’s blissful escape to this exclusive South African haven is a testament to a recent financial windfall – a US$17,000 payout from his former club, Dynamos, settling a long-standing debt that had cast a shadow over their relationship.
“Evans is making full use of the jackpot he received from his former employers and he has already paid lobola for his wife and the couple flew out to South Africa for their honeymoon,” shared a source close to the couple.
The lobola payment, a traditional African custom signifying the formal union of two families, had been a point of contention between Gwekwerere and Natasha. “Even though the couple have been together for some time, there were still some formalities which needed to be completed and the payment of lobola was one of them,” explained the source. “It was creating some issues between the two because of family pressures and even though the two are madly in love it forced Natasha to move back with her parents at some stage.”
With the lobola hurdle cleared, the couple decided to embark on a much-needed romantic getaway, choosing South Africa as their destination. “Evans has worked in South Africa before, when he was a footballer and he has many friends in that country and the destination was an easy choice,” said the source.
The US$17,000 payment, a portion of the US$27,000 owed to Gwekwerere by Dynamos, was a crucial step in the club’s bid to participate in the Confederation Cup. The debt had threatened to derail Dynamos’ participation in the second-tier CAF competition, as CAF regulations require clubs to be financially sound and free from outstanding debts to players.
The Football Union of Zimbabwe (FUZ) played a pivotal role in securing the payment for Gwekwerere, ultimately preventing Dynamos from being banned from the Confederation Cup. “FUZ initiated and requested CAF, through the ZIFA Club Licensing manager, to impose a ban on Dynamos FC from participating in CAF competitions citing overdue payables towards Evans Gwekwerere,” said a statement from FUZ.
The saga of Gwekwerere’s debt and the subsequent payment has been a long and arduous one. The former Warriors striker had been battling to recover the US$27,000 owed to him for his services to Dynamos over several seasons. The matter eventually reached the Labour Court in 2017, where a decision was made in favour of Gwekwerere. The High Court of Zimbabwe upheld the Labour Court decision in 2018, but Dynamos failed to comply with the court order and pay the outstanding amount, H-Metro reported.
“Non-payment of a binding decision by a competent authority is a serious CAF Club Licensing Regulation violation,” stated FUZ.
Gwekwerere’s journey to reclaim his rightful earnings highlights the challenges faced by many athletes in Zimbabwe, who often struggle to secure fair compensation from their clubs. The case also underscores the importance of robust legal frameworks and the role of organisations like FUZ in protecting the rights of athletes.
While Gwekwerere’s financial woes are now behind him, the case has left a lasting impact on his personal life. Two years ago, Natasha was ordered by the High Court to pay $1 million in damages for allegedly snatching the former Dynamos forward from his first wife, Makanyara Mafunga.
Makanyara accused Natasha of having an adulterous affair with Gwekwerere, claiming that she had discovered the relationship just three weeks into her marriage to the footballer. The High Court ruling, although a significant financial burden on Natasha, did not deter the couple from pursuing their relationship.
