PSL DRC ruling clears Chiefs move for Velebayi


For the past two months, the player has been locked in a legal wrangle with Cape Town Spurs over his release, with his representatives insisting he was no longer bound by a “professional contract” after the Urban Warriors’ relegation.

Spurs suffered back-to-back demotions — from the topflight and then from the Motsepe Foundation Championship, South Africa’s second tier — dropping into the amateur ranks in the ABC Motsepe League.

NSL rules are understood to state that once a club becomes amateur, its players are immediately declared free agents, allowing them to join a team of their choice.

However, Spurs argued that Velebayi, along with teammates Luke Baartman and Liam Bern, remained under binding contracts and should return to training.

While Baartman and Bern still await their fate, SABC Sport has seen the award confirming Velebayi’s freedom to move on.

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The DRC found that his legal team made a compelling case within the NSL handbook that the contract Spurs were relying on was no longer of professional status, and therefore void.

Velebayi and Baartman are believed to have already agreed terms with Chiefs, while Bern is set to join AmaZulu.

Amakhosi have kept silent publicly on the status of the two players they are targeting, but Usuthu president Sandile Zungu has been more open, confirming Bern had been offered a contract — though he cannot be registered until the case is finalised.