Cape Town Spurs have released a statement on the ruling that Asanele Velebayi is a free agent, labelling it a “legal and logical catastrophe”.
Earlier on Monday, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) Dispute Resolution Chamber from the panel of Mosupi Mashele (Chairperson), Amanda Vilakazi and Adv. Saleem Seedat ruled in favour of the winger in terms of clause 43.1.7 with regards to the evidence laid from both parties, stating “the Applicant is declared a free agent.”
It frees up a path for Velebayi to sign for Kaizer Chiefs, who already wanted the winger last season but couldn’t meet Spurs’ valuation of their “diamond”.
Spurs, who argue they invest about R8 million into a player that comes from a young age through their academy, reacted to the ruling with shock, stating the ruling rips their academy model to shreds, as they will now only receive a small compensation fee.
“While on the surface it appears to be a victory for player freedom, the ruling is a legal and logical catastrophe—one built on contradictory reasoning and a wilful ignorance of contractual law. More alarmingly, it has fired a fatal shot into the heart of football development, threatening to make long-term investment in young talent an unsustainable, and ultimately pointless, endeavour.
“The true devastation of this award lies not in its flawed legal gymnastics, but in its complete disregard for the economic realities of football. Cape Town Spurs is not merely a team; it is one of the nation’s premier development institutions. For over 30 years, it has identified, coached, educated, and nurtured young boys into professional men. This is a long, arduous, and incredibly expensive process.
“According to figures verified by the club’s auditors, the input cost for a single player who has been in the academy for 10 years is a minimum of R8,000,000. This staggering sum covers coaching, facilities, travel, education, and welfare. The training compensation fees a club might receive when an academy player signs their first professional contract cover less than 5% of this monumental investment.
“The entire business model, therefore, relies on the sanctity of that first professional contract. It is the club’s only mechanism to protect its investment and, hopefully, generate a future transfer fee that can be reinvested back into the next generation of youngsters.
“This award rips that model to shreds.”
Spurs CEO Alexi Efstathiou expressed concern that the young players had been “misled or unduly influenced,” reaffirming the club’s commitment to handling the matter through the proper channels to protect its rights and the integrity of the sport.
“We would never accuse someone with no evidence, as it would be irresponsible and unprofessional,” he stated.
“We know what the player is valued at, he has a contract with our club and that needs to be respected no matter the club.
“We will ascertain after consulting with the legal team the possibility of arbitration and appeal.
“In the meantime, that will depend on the Baartman case and also the yet to be heard Bern case.”
Spurs further question the involvement of the other clubs, accusing them of “tapping up” tactics, without outright naming them.
“Furthermore, the case reeks of the insidious influence of ‘tapping up’ – the illegal approaching of contracted players,” the club’s statement continues
“Some of the players’ own letters admit they had ‘secured employment’ elsewhere before their contracts were terminated. This is a flagrant violation of football regulations.
“Yet, instead of sanctioning this behaviour, the DRC award has effectively rewarded it. It has given a green light to agents and rival clubs to prey on the players of any team facing the hardship of relegation, knowing that a flawed legal precedent now exists to validate their exit.
“The ultimate loser is South African football itself. Today, football development is worse off. And unless this disastrous award is reviewed and overturned, it will stand as a tombstone for the very academies that are the lifeblood of the beautiful game in this country.”
Spurs are yet to hear the outcome of the cases for Luke Baartman, who has agreed verbally to join Chiefs, and Liam Bern to AmaZulu, but they are expected to be delivered this week under separate panels.