Footballers Asanele Velebayi and Luke Baartman are now at liberty to fulfill their dreams of playing for Kaizer Chiefs following a ruling in their favour by a South African Football Association (SAFA) arbitrator.

Velebayi, 22, and Baartman, 19, were officially signed by Amakhosi two months ago on free transfers but were both barred from turning out for the Soweto giants after their former club, Cape Town Spurs, challenged their moves.

The duo won their cases when they were declared free agents by the Premier Soccer League (PSL) dispute resolution chamber (DRC).

Spurs filed an appeal with the South African Football Association, and a month later, SAFA arbitrator Hilton Epstein ruled in favour of Velebayi and Baartman.

Spurs, who now campaign in the ABC Motsepe League—the third tier of South African football—have been ordered to immediately issue the players’ clearances, meaning they can now play for Chiefs.

The players had argued that by virtue of Spurs being relegated to amateur football, their professional contracts ceased to exist, paving the way for them to move on as free agents.

Spurs, on the other hand, argued unsuccessfully on the principle of pacta sunt servanda (a contract is a contract) and insisted the players should honour their agreements.