Luke Baartman, Asanele Velebayi & Liam Bern! New signing confirmed as Kaizer Chiefs and AmaZulu FC face registration issue

Cape Town Spurs maintain that Luke Baartman, Asanele Velebayi and Liam Bern remain under contract despite the club’s relegation to the ABC Motsepe League.

However, the players and their representatives argue they have the right to terminate their contracts, prompting Baartman and Velebayi to take the matter to the PSL’s Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) in a bid to join Kaizer Chiefs as free agents.

Bern’s camp is awaiting the outcome of that case before taking legal steps alongside AmaZulu, who have already signed the player.

AmaZulu president Sandile Zungu confirmed Bern’s signing but revealed the club is unable to register him with the PSL due to the ongoing dispute.

“Everyone knows about Liam Bern, there is nothing I can say about that,” Zungu told Sportswire.

“He is a great talent, but we can’t register him until the matter with Cape Town Spurs is resolved,” he concluded.

According to NSL rules, if a club falls outside the top two professional leagues, the Premier Soccer League and National First Division, its players are considered free agents.

This would allow the three players in question to sign with any club of their choice.

The ruling remains pending, keeping Baartman, Velebayi and Bern in a state of uncertainty ahead of the new season.

All three players now await the DRC’s decision, with the 2025/26 campaign set to kick off this weekend through the season-opening MTN8, a critical time for clubs finalising their squads.