Kaizer Chiefs Get Go-Ahead to Sign SA starlet as DRC Declares Him a Free Agent

The Premier Soccer League's (PSL) Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) has declared midfielder Luke Baartman a free agent, a landmark decision that ends weeks of contractual limbo and opens the door for him to sign with Kaizer Chiefs.

At the heart of this case was a battle over a simple clause. When Cape Town Spurs was relegated not once, but twice, falling from the DStv Premiership into the amateur ranks, Baartman’s contract should have become null and void. 

NSL rules are clear on this. Yet, Spurs fought hard to keep the 19-year-old, arguing he was still under a binding contract. This is a classic power play—a club trying to hold onto an asset, even when the terms of their own agreement say otherwise.

The DRC's ruling in Baartman's favour is a win for common sense and fairness. It reaffirms the principle that a contract's clauses should be honored, especially when they protect a player from being tied to a club that has fallen out of the professional leagues.

BAARTMAN TO JOIN VELEBAYI TO CHIEFS 

The fact that the DRC made a similar ruling for former Spurs captain Asanele Velebayi just days ago shows a clear pattern. The legal body is consistently siding with the players, asserting that clubs cannot ignore the very rules they operate under.

For Kaizer Chiefs, this is a huge relief. The club can now move forward with signing a highly-rated young talent without the risk of a messy legal battle. 

The pressure is on them to finalize the deal quickly, as Spurs have already voiced their frustration and may seek arbitration from SAFA.

Spurs’ anger is understandable, but their argument about “injustice” to developing clubs rings hollow when they're trying to ignore a contractual clause they likely drafted themselves. The real injustice would be forcing a player to stay with a team that can no longer provide a professional platform for his development. 

This ruling is a crucial step towards ensuring that young, talented players like Baartman have the freedom to pursue their careers when their clubs fail to maintain their professional status.