Kaizer Chiefs is believed to be closer to signing ABC Motsepe League star as the club continues to rebuild its squad ahead of next season.
Ahead of the recently ended season, Amakhosi pushed hard to sign the then 21-year-old Asanele Velebayi from Cape Town Spurs FC after the Cape Town-based club was relegated from the top-tier division in South African football.
Chiefs’ pursuit fell on deaf ears as Spurs’ hierarchy put a price tag on the player’s head and refused to accept anything below their evaluation of the player.
The South African international was left fuming and frustrated as he couldn’t complete his dream move to Naturena while his teammate Rushwin Dortley joined Chiefs despite Spurs trying to stand firmly on their asking price.
However, a year later, the club is set to lose the now 22-year-old left fullback for free after suffering relegation from the Motsepe Foundation Championship to the ABC Motsepe League in the recently ended season.
The club’s relegation means Velebayi is a free agent as the third division and below divisions in South Africa belongs to South Africa Football Association(SAFA) unlike the two top divisions which are under the Premier Soccer League(PSL).
However, Chiefs will have to wait a little bit longer to get their man, as Spurs are challenging their relegation, citing match-fixing as the reason.
Should Spurs win their case and stay in the Motsepe Foundation Championship, Velebayi will still be contracted to Spurs and Chiefs will have to pay a fee to sign him.