Spurs threaten legal action against players linked to Chiefs and AmaZulu

Cape Town Spurs are prepared to take stern action against three key players – captain Asanele Velebayi, Liam Bern, and Luke Baartman – if they fail to report for training at Ikamva in the coming days.

The club alleges the trio, linked with moves to Kaizer Chiefs and AmaZulu, are in breach of their existing contracts.

According to SABC Sport, a letter has been sent to the players, demanding that they honour their current agreements despite CT Spurs’ recent relegation from the second-tier league to the third division.

The Urban Warriors were relegated from the Motsepe Foundation Championship to the amateur ABC Motsepe League last month. This demotion, in theory, would allow players to become free agents due to the club’s change in professional status, as per National Soccer League (NSL) rules. However, the precise application and clarity of these regulations in such scenarios remain a point of contention.

As a result, CT Spurs CEO Alexi Efstathiou asserts in the letter that Velebayi, Bern, and Baartman are now in breach of contract after failing to show up for pre-season training earlier this week.

All three midfielders are reportedly close to finalising deals with Betway Premiership teams, with Velebayi and Baartman strongly linked to Chiefs, and Bern understood to be at AmaZulu.

“The employment contract concluded between Spurs and yourself remains valid and binding, and you will accordingly remain employed by Spurs until your employment contract comes to an end or a mutual agreement is reached between Spurs and yourself to terminate your employment contract at an earlier date,” the letter states.

Efstathiou further warned that CT Spurs would initiate disciplinary action if the trio continues to be absent. The Urban Warriors maintain they will uphold their end of the existing contracts, but are also open to negotiating transfers for a fee that reflects their players’ market value.

It is said that all three players have been advised to send termination letters, requesting their clearances as free agents, citing CT Spurs’ no longer being a professional entity within the Premier Soccer League.