‘Like I Was Scoring Myself’: Velebayi Hails ‘Brother’ Baartman’s First Chiefs Goal
Kaizer Chiefs winger Asanele Velebayi described Luke Baartman’s first goal for Amakhosi as a proud and emotional moment after their impressive victory over Sekhukhune United.
Baartman opened his account for the Soweto giants on Wednesday as Chiefs secured a 2-0 victory over Sekhukhune United in the Betway Premiership.
The goal was particularly special for Velebayi, who has shared a long football journey with Baartman dating back to their days in the youth ranks of Cape Town Spurs.
“Obviously, Baartman getting his first goal on Wednesday was inspiring for me,” Velebayi said.
“It was also a happy and proud moment because we’ve come a long way together, from the youth ranks of Ajax Cape Town, which is now Cape Town Spurs.
“So, seeing Baartman score was almost like I was scoring my first goal because he’s like a brother to me. We’ve been through a lot together, so it was a really proud moment for me.”
The two players joined Chiefs together last season from Cape Town Spurs following a lengthy transfer dispute. Spurs argued that the players remained bound by their existing contracts, but a SAFA arbitrator and the PSL Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) ruled in favour of the players.
The rulings determined that the contracts in question were no longer legally binding at the professional level, allowing both Velebayi and Baartman to terminate their ties with Spurs and join Chiefs as free agents, particularly after Spurs were relegated from the Motsepe Foundation Championship to the Cape Town ABC Motsepe League.
Their first season at Naturena was challenging, however, as both players struggled for regular game time under Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze.
Things have changed this campaign under new head coach Fernando Da Cruz, with both players receiving more opportunities.
Velebayi has also welcomed the arrival of another former Cape Town Spurs player, Faiz Abrahams, who recently joined Chiefs on loan from Stellenbosch. The winger believes Abrahams’ presence will create healthy competition within the squad.
“So, with Faiz, I wouldn’t say it feels like anything new because I’ve known him for quite some time,” he added.
“Having him here is good because it pushes you to give your best. With this competition, you can’t afford to be comfortable at any point.
“Having Faiz here is a positive because I know the magic he has, and I know he’s going to help us a lot. I’m sure he’s going to deliver.
“Obviously, I spoke to him and told him the pressure is going to be high, but he should just try to control what he can, which is staying calm and giving his best for the team.”
Abrahams will now hope to make his Chiefs debut after joining the club on loan, although he has yet to make the matchday squad.
Velebayi, meanwhile, will have another opportunity to open his Chiefs account when Amakhosi face Mamelodi Sundowns in the Betway Premiership on Saturday. Baartman will be aiming to build on his breakthrough goal and add to his tally, while Abrahams will be hoping to earn his first involvement in the matchday squad.
