SAFA To Hear Velebayi And Chiefs Case Next Week

Sportswire has learned that the dispute involving Kaizer Chiefs’ new signing, Asanele Velebayi, will be heard next week at the SAFA Appeals Board. The hearing is rumoured to be scheduled for Monday.

Cape Town Spurs have taken Velebayi’s transfer to the SAFA Appeals Board, hoping the decision will be in their favor.

Chiefs signed Velebayi after the former Spurs captain won his case against the club at the PSL Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC), which ruled that he be released as a free agent.

Chiefs quickly seized the opportunity to sign him, but Spurs challenged the signing by appealing to SAFA.

The Implications of the Decision

If Spurs lose the case at SAFA, it will be their final chance to get compensation for Velebayi. They believe they are owed a fee from Chiefs, arguing that he was still under a valid PSL contract.

Since the matter is with SAFA, Chiefs cannot register Velebayi to play in the PSL, even though they have officially confirmed his signing. The SAFA Appeals Board will determine whether Velebayi should be declared a free agent.

If Spurs lose this appeal, they cannot appeal the decision further, and it will be final. However, if they win, Chiefs could be liable to pay close to R10 million, which is the valuation Spurs has placed on the player.

Spurs’ Other Player Disputes

If Spurs lose this case, it is rumored they will drop all other similar cases, including those against Luke Baartman and Liam Bern. Baartman was also signed by Chiefs after winning his case against Spurs at the PSL DRC.

Bern, now with AmaZulu, had his PSL DRC case heard on Tuesday, and it has been postponed to a new date.

Spurs found themselves in this predicament after being relegated from the Motsepe Foundation Championship to the ABC Motsepe League Regional League in Cape Town at the end of last season. According to PSL rules, their players were declared free agents because the club would be competing in an amateur league this season.