Zwane Waiting On How Chiefs Solve Velebayi And Baartman Issues

AmaZulu coach Arthur Zwane said he’s in a similar situation to Kaizer Chiefs regarding a player’s contract dispute. Chiefs can’t use players Asanele Velebayi and Luke Baartman, and Zwane is facing the same issue with Liam Bern.

Contract Disputes and the PSL

According to a source at Sportswire, a hearing for Bern’s case before the Premier Soccer League’s (PSL) Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) was scheduled for last Tuesday but has since been postponed.

Bern wants the DRC to declare him a free agent, similar to what happened with Velebayi and Baartman from Cape Town Spurs.

However, Spurs are fighting these rulings. They’ve appealed to the South African Football Association (SAFA) Appeals Board, arguing they deserve transfer fees for the players. According to Sportswire, that matter is expected to be heard this week.

Despite the DRC ruling in favor of Velebayi and Baartman, allowing Chiefs to sign them, Spurs maintain that all three players, including Bern, should be subject to a transfer fee, even though the club was relegated to the ABC Motsepe Regional League in Cape Town.

According to PSL rules, players are declared free agents when a club is relegated to the amateur-status ABC Motsepe League, as professional contracts cease to exist.

Zwane on Player Availability and Goalkeepers

During a media day training session at Princess Magogo Stadium, Zwane was asked about Bern’s status. “It is the same situation just like other clubs who cannot use their players [from Spurs],” he stated. “Once we see the other club uses theirs, we are going to follow suit.”

AmaZulu were preparing for their Betway Premiership match against Stellenbosch at Princess Magogo Stadium on Wednedsay.

Their recent form has been concerning, as they dropped points in the last two matches by conceding late goals.

Zwane’s team has, however, received a boost with the return of two goalkeepers, Darren Johnson and Richard Ofori. Ofori suffered a concussion during a loss to Stellenbosch in the MTN8 quarter-finals in August but returned to play in the team’s draw with Magesi. Johnson, a recent signing from Chippa, had been out with an injury.

Zwane noted that he now faces a selection headache with all three of his goalkeepers—including Olwethu Mzimela—fully fit and training under the guidance of goalkeeping coach Posnet Omony.

“We have three number ones,” said Zwane, whose team has lost its last six matches against Steve Barker’s side, including a 5-0 defeat at home last season.

“As you can see, they are training, they are creating a headache for me, and I don’t know who to choose on Wednesday. But it will be about the profiling of the opposition—how they press, where they press, and it will be about who we choose on the day.”