Spurs absorbed all costs in the previous structure, but following their relegation to the amateur ranks, that operational model is no longer sustainable.

As such, Efstathiou has explained that they will now be relying on external funding to maintain their structures and preserve the club's rich history of churning out talent.

“The academy has always been a pro bono structure – the club covered all costs, approximately R80 000 per month, excluding the player factor cost,” Efstathiou told SABC Sport.

“It will continue to operate, but going forward parents, agents and possibly individual sponsors will need to contribute financially to maintain the high-quality service we will continue to supply.”

The decision marks the end of an era for the Urban Warriors, whose academy at Ikamva has produced some of South African football’s most recognisable names.

With Spurs now plying their trade in the ABC Motsepe League, the club has been stripped of its professional status and triggering a series of legal battles with contracted players who walked away on free transfers.

READ: Patrice Motsepe: South Africa should be a football powerhouse

The club's much-publicised disputes at the PSL Dispute Resolution Chamber and later SAFA arbitration, saw key youngsters such as Asanele Velebayi, Luke Baartman, Mervin Boji, Liam Bern and veteran Therlon Moosa declared free agents, leaving Spurs without any compensation for players they had nurtured from a young age.

Efstathiou admitted the change will hurt players from disadvantaged backgrounds, adding that the true costs of running a proper academy are often underestimated.

“For instance, an ACL operation for a junior this season cost R180 000, and SAFA insurance only reimburses R25 000 of that amount,” he explained.

“As you know, most of these kids don’t have medical aid. So, this isn’t a complete shutdown, but a remodel of how we sustain the system.”

The Spurs boss also criticised the lack of an effective training compensation framework in South Africa, arguing that it discourages clubs from investing in youth development.

“Any player we develop now, under the old or new model, effectively leaves for free. The training compensation mechanism is dysfunctional because SAFA hasn’t set up a proper table.

"With NSL clubs also placing a moratorium on paying compensation, it’s a sucker punch for football development. Nobody will invest in an environment that’s investor-unfriendly,” Efstathiou concluded.

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