How Velebayi’s failed move to Kaizer Chiefs could affect him
Former Cape Town Spurs FC winger Tabiso Mpame has shared his thoughts on how Asanele Velebayi’s failed move to Kaizer Chiefs could affect him.
The PSL transfer window officially closed on Friday, September 20, 2024, with CT Spurs’ highly-rated winger, Velebayi, remaining at the club.
Negotiations between CT Spurs and Chiefs for Velebayi’s transfer ultimately failed to materialise due to an impasse between the two clubs.
CT Spurs chairman Alexi Efstathiou expressed his disappointment with Chiefs’ offers, stating that they were significantly below Velebayi’s true value. Efstathiou emphasised the club’s significant investment in Velebayi’s development and praised his exceptional talent as a winger.
The right-winger caught the attention of the Soweto giants following his impressive displays last season in the Urban Warriors’ colours, where he featured in 24 games across all competitions with one goal and one assist to his name.
However, his efforts couldn’t weren’t enough to save the Cape club from avoiding the axe in the SA top-flight, as they were relegated back to the Motsepe Foundation Championship just after one season on their return.
THABISO MPAME WEIGHS IN ON ASANELE VELEBAYI’S KAIZER CHIEFS FAILED MOVE
In an interview with FARPost, Mpame stated that, as much as the situation may affect the player’s mental state, he commended how Velebayi handled the situation.
“Well, you know when you are a breadwinner, and you are young, and you have been having a tough time in your career, and all those things and such an opportunity comes to you, it seems like now everything is just shattered, and everybody is talking about it, and your fans are calling when you are in the malls; I remember the boy getting frustrated and all kinds of stuff,” Mpame told this publication.
“But he is a strong boy with a prepared mind. I think he is handling the situation quite well. Obviously, it will affect his mental health, but he is a very strong boy. As you can see, he is playing and performing well and is professional about it.
TABISO MPAME’S WORDS OF ADVICE TO ASANELE VELEBAYI
Mpame continued: “I told him that, ‘Boy, when God wants it to happen, it is going to happen. But now, focus on where you are. The negotiations and everything they are not your problem. Your problem is to play, perform, and continue producing the performances you have been producing.’
“The boy is doing very well; he is managing, working very hard, and doing extra training. So, I believe his time is going to come, just like Chumani Butsaka. I told him the very same thing: ‘Keep on fighting; you can’t hide in the room; you have to keep on fighting.’ Look at him now; he has joined Stellenbosch FC.”
“You know, I think it’s a very disturbing situation, but as long as you are strong enough. I mean, it also happens to a lot of big-name players where deals are being delayed.
“Look at Oswin Appollis’ situation and what happened to him. Those things are examples for these young players. And they understand they have to keep being professional about it and stay loyal. This is because, at the end of the day, you are going to end up doing your own thing, sabotaging the deals. So, you will end up having no job. The main factor I always tell them is to have a job and a salary to feed your family.”
Following the departure of Chumani Butsaka to Stellenbosch FC, the 21-year-old Velebayi was named CT Spurs’ new captain for the 2024/25 Motsepe Foundation Championship campaign.
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