Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs risk losing out on talented prospects Asanele Velebayi and Luke Baartman if they don’t close the deal to sign them soon.
The duo, who were relegated from the Motsepe Foundation Championship with Cape Town Spurs last season, have been linked with a move to Naturena since the season ended.
Velebayi is someone Chiefs have been tracking for over a year now. They almost signed him soon after Spurs were relegated from the top flight, but they couldn’t get the deal done.
With Cape Town Spurs no longer in the professional ranks of South African football, it was thought the deal to sign them would be easy for Amakhosi. However, the Urban Warriors have stood firm in negotiations and made it clear they won’t part ways easily. After Chiefs were on the verge of signing them for free, Spurs threatened legal action.
According to reports, if Chiefs still wish to sign the duo now, they will have to pay a hefty development compensation fee believed to be around R1.5 million per year. As a result, negotiations have stalled, with no resolution in sight..
A report in Soccer Laduma now suggests another club is monitoring the situation and could steal the pair from under Chiefs’ noses. As the club is going through a major rebuilding phase, losing out on two of the brightest prospects in South African football – when they had the inside track for so long – could represent a major missed opportunity.
For a team desperate to inject youth and long-term potential into their squad, missing out on Velebayi and Baartman would be a significant setback. Both players offer something Chiefs currently lack – raw talent, hunger, and the versatility to grow into key assets over time.
Velebayi, a dynamic winger with excellent close control and the ability to take on defenders, fits the profile of the kind of player Chiefs fans have been crying out for. Baartman, meanwhile, is a highly rated striker with good movement and finishing instincts – attributes that could be sharpened under the right coaching setup.
With transfer windows closing fast and rivals circling, Amakhosi need to act decisively before they lose out on another high-potential acquisition.
IOL Sport
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