Cape Town Spurs FC Chief Executive Officer Alexi Esfatathiou sends a stern message to Kaizer Chiefs as the transfer saga of Asanele Velebayi continues.
In the last 48 hours, the transfer saga of the 21-year-old attacker has taken a number of turns.
From the player trying to force a move out of the Urban Warriors by involving his parents and the club’s hierarchy accusing Chiefs of breaking the FIFA rules by directly contacting the player.
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Despite all the twists and turns, the Urban Warriors hierarchy led by Esfatathiou remain firm in their decision to sell the player at the value they have put on their players, including Velebayi.
Talking to iDiski Times in an exclusive interview, he revealed that the price tag they have placed on the South African international is not because of Chiefs as rumours around are saying, but because of the resources they have put in to groom the youngster.
“We understand our business. We understand the value of our players and the quality they will bring to any club,” Esfatathiou told iDiski Times.
“I see the comments because (we want more money because) it’s Chiefs, (but) as asking for so much money had nothing to do with it – if Manchester United phones us tomorrow we would ask for the same price, it doesn’t matter it’s what we value the players at.
“People talk, as if we don’t know what we’re doing. The current owners and board of the club have been in the NSL for 29 consecutive years, the most after Chiefs and Pirates. I don’t know of any other ownership of teams in the NSL that can boast about 29 years of consistent ownership?“
He also touched the fact that it takes around R8 million to R12,5 million to groom a player from around the age of 12 to 21.
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As such, the club should enjoy the fruits of the seeds they have planted and taken care of over the years.
“We’ve done what we’ve done. You need to do what you need to do from your side.
“We have a contract with the players. We’ve developed them as players, and it is now the club’s opportunity to bear the fruits of that development process that, in this case, took 10 years to do.
“The club won’t be held at ransom by anyone,” Esfatathiou concluded.
Meanwhile, the Naturena-based club is hopeful that the meeting between Velebayi’s parents and Spurs could see the latter reduce their asking price like it did with Rushwin Dortley.