Amateur club Cape Town Spurs has changed the funding model of its youth academy, which would be to the detriment of talented young footballers.
The club has been in the news in the past few months following their relegation to the ABC Motsepe League, which resulted in them losing “the diamonds” that were a part of their setup in the professional ranks.
Kaizer Chiefs snapped up Asanele Velebayi and Luke Baartman on free transfers with the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and the South African Football Association declaring those players free agents, which opened doors for many of their stars, referred to as diamonds by the club executives, to join other clubs.
Liam Bern went to AmaZulu, while Therlo Moosa is the latest player to move, joining neighbours Cape Town City.
In response, Spurs now say they are done digging into their own pockets to finance the Academy.
“The arbitration decision by Advocate Hilton Epstein, which declared academy graduates Asanele Velebayi and Luke Baartman as free agents, has exposed deep flaws in the system,” stated Spurs.
“Coupled with the inconsistent enforcement of FIFA’s Training Compensation and Solidarity Mechanism, it has made the traditional ‘charity academy’ model untenable. The era of the charity academy is, regrettably, over. This shift is not by choice but by necessity, imposed by a framework that undervalues our contributions.
“The implications are profound, especially for vulnerable youth. Without reform, the burden of funding elite development could fall on families, excluding many talented individuals from underprivileged communities. Despite repeated appeals to government and the South African Football Association (SAFA) for support, no substantial aid has materialised.”
With that said, Spurs, which is home to six youth teams from U12 to U18), will only accommodate players whose parents can afford it.
“Cape Town Spurs is pivoting to a self-sustaining, commercial model for its academy. While retaining its core passion and expertise, future operations will increasingly depend on contributions from parents, agents, and individual sponsors. This change will secure the longevity of Ikamva’s programmes, facilities, and staff, ensuring high-calibre development continues.
“For over 30 years, Cape Town Spurs has been at the forefront of nurturing talent through Ikamva, offering state-of-the-art facilities, expert coaching, educational support, and welfare programmes. This commitment has propelled countless players into professional careers, emphasising that opportunity should be based on talent, not socioeconomic status.”
Over the years, Spurs, formerly Ajax Cape Town, has produced top talent such as Steven Pienaar, Eyong Enoh and Thulani Serero, but now faces a bleak future.
“Ikamva will endure as a hub for producing elite footballers, with the club’s 30 years of intellectual property and philosophy guiding the way. Cape Town Spurs remains committed to its values of professionalism, discipline, honesty, and trust, working toward a return to prominence. This announcement calls for urgent action from SAFA and stakeholders to reform youth development strategies, enforce compensation mechanisms, and create an equitable system.
“The future of South African football hinges on recognising and rewarding clubs like Cape Town Spurs.”
