Cape Town Spurs have responded to accusations of overvaluing their players amid Kaizer Chiefs' pursuit of Asanele Velebayi.
The 21-year-old winger was a revelation for Spurs last season, despite the club's relegation to the Motsepe Foundation Championship at the end of the campaign.
Amakhosi have expressed interest in acquiring his services, but their initial offer was rejected by the Cape Town-based club. According to SABC Sport, Velebayi's parents have intervened in an attempt to facilitate a move.
The club has faced criticism for allegedly placing exorbitant price tags on academy graduates.
Spurs CEO Alexi Efstathiou has defended the club's valuation on its players. He further insisted that they’re not doing that only on Kaizer Chiefs, they would demand the same price for overseas clubs.
CAPE TOWN SPURS ON THE CLUB’S VALUATION OF PLAYERS
“We understand our business, we understand the value of our players and the quality they will bring to any club,” Alexi 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 believes this an opportunity for them to benefit from developing a player since at a young age.
“We’ve done what we’ve done, you need to do what you need to do from your side,” he added.
“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.”
