Asanele Velebayi case threatens Cape Town Spurs and SA football
Young players standing determined on a sunlit training field
A recent ruling from the National Soccer League’s Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) has sent shockwaves through South African football, declaring Cape Town Spurs attacker Asanele Velebayi a free agent following the club’s relegation. What might seem like a victory for player freedom is, in truth, a legal and logical disaster that threatens the future of football development in the country.
The dispute was simple: Spurs were relegated to the third tier, and players like Velebayi, Liam Bern, and Luke Baartman argued that this fundamental change in the club’s status meant their contracts were no longer valid. Spurs, with over 30 years of experience nurturing talent, stood firmly on the legal principle that a contract is a contract. Yet, despite agreeing early in the ruling that relegation did not automatically grant free agency, the panel later reversed itself, declaring that relegation alone was sufficient to release the players. This contradiction not only defies sound legal reasoning but also creates a dangerous precedent that will cause uncertainty for clubs across the nation.
More worrying is the financial devastation this ruling threatens. Spurs revealed that the cost to develop one player through their academy for ten years is a staggering R8 million. This sum covers coaching, facilities, education, travel, and welfare—yet training compensation fees barely cover 5% of these expenses. The club’s entire development model relies on the sanctity of that first professional contract to protect their investment and fund the next generation. With this ruling, that model has been ripped to shreds, telling every development club that their investment is worthless and that players nurtured over a decade can simply walk away when adversity strikes.
The case also raises troubling suspicions of “tapping up,” where players are illegally approached by rival clubs before their contracts expire. Some players’ own letters suggest they had secured new employment before leaving Spurs, a violation of football regulations that, alarmingly, has gone unpunished. Instead, the DRC’s decision effectively rewards such behaviour, encouraging agents and clubs to prey on relegated teams.
Adding to the controversy is the unexplained delay in the ruling on Luke Baartman’s case, which has yet to be delivered weeks after his hearing. This delay casts doubt on the fairness and consistency of the dispute resolution process and leaves Spurs with an uncertain legal landscape.
Despite this, Cape Town Spurs remain resolute. CEO Alexi Efstathiou has vowed to consult legal experts about arbitration and appeal, insisting that the club’s contract rights must be respected. He emphasises that this battle is about protecting the integrity of the sport and the future of football development in South Africa.
This ruling sends a chilling message to every academy in the country: why invest millions in developing young players when they can leave for free, backed by a flawed legal precedent? It is not a triumph for players but a win for agents and rival clubs eager to acquire talent without paying for its nurturing. Unless overturned, this decision risks undermining the very foundation of South African football’s future—its academies and youth development systems.
