Velebayi saga rumbles on as Cape Town Spurs stop Chiefs from playing him

Kaizer Chiefs may have won their first battle on winger Asanele Velebayi but Cape Town Spurs are not going down without a fight.

Chiefs were handed a massive boost when the Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) ruled on Monday that Velebayi is free to sign for a club of his choice after Spurs’ relegation from the National First Division (NFD) to the third tier.

This was after Spurs contested the fact that their relegation to the third tier rendered their players free agents as the country’s football rules only recognise the PSL and NFD as professional leagues.

Spurs move to stop Chiefs from playing Velebayi

The club has been demanding transfer fees for their players with a price tag of R10 million put on Velebayi’s head but the ruling handed them a setback with Chiefs reacting quickly by unveiling the player the following day.

However, Spurs have moved with speed to put the brakes on the transfer as they have filed an appeal which means Velebayi cannot play for Chiefs until the case is heard and determined.

According to iDiski Times, Spurs have filed the appeal and also warned Chiefs and the PSL against registering Velebayi as the saga keeps rumbling on.

Will Cape Town’s latest effort yield results?

Spurs have exercised the PSL Rule 24.4, which states that any ruling is automatically suspended until the outcome of an appeal is finalised.

That means Chiefs will have to wait again before their dream signing can don the club’s jersey, having had to wait since June, when the Cape Town-based club filed their case regarding Velabayi and Luke Baartman, the other player wanted by Amakhosi, as well as Liam Bern, who has agreed terms with AmaZulu.

Spurs CEO Alexi Efstathiou has remained adamant that Velebayi is a treasured diamond which cannot leave on the cheap or for free and it remains to be seen if his fight will yield results.