By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Cape Town Spurs says they will respect the ruling of SAFA’s Arbitrator Hilton Epstein on the Asanele Velebayi and Luke Baartman matter.
Epstein has ruled in favour of two players, declaring them free agents, and paving way for them to make their highly anticipated debuts for Kaizer Chiefs.
The duo joined Chiefs as free agents after Spurs were relegated from the Motsepe Foundation Championship at the end of last season.
Following their drop to the ABC Motsepe League, Spurs’ entire squad was reclassified as amateur footballers. Chiefs moved swiftly to secure the signatures of the two promising youngsters, with Spurs facing the prospect of losing their prized assets without compensation.
In a statement, Spurs said even though the arbitrator’s ruling disappointed them, they will respect it.
“While the Club is naturally disappointed with the outcome, we respect the arbitration process and will abide by the decision. We will now take the necessary time to thoroughly review the detailed award with our legal counsel to understand its full implications for the Club, our remaining players, and our long-term strategy,” read a statement from Spurs.
“This ruling raises significant questions about the structure of player contracts and the protection of clubs that invest in youth development. For three decades, the Cape Town Spurs Academy has been a cornerstone of South African football, dedicated to nurturing young talent and providing a pathway to professional careers. The potential precedent set by this award forces a moment of deep reflection on the sustainability of such models.
Baartman is currently on international duty with the South African Under-20 team at the Fifa Under-20 World Cup in Chile, where they face Colombia tonight at the Estadio Fiscal de Talca (kick-off 9.30pm).