Kaizer Chiefs coach addresses Velebayi, Baartman absence | OneFootball

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Chiefs coach on Velebayi, Baartman missing in action

Photo: Khalil Ben Youssef

Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Khalil Ben Youssef has addressed the absence of Asanele Velebayi and Luke Baartman following their league defeat to Stellenbosch FC on Tuesday.

The two players were last seen in action in the narrow Betway Premiership win over Marumo Gallants on 28 January 2026.

Velebayi made six appearances across all competitions since he was cleared by the PSL DRC, while Baartman, who also had a legal dispute with Cape Town Spurs, has played four games.

Pressed on the reason behind the players' omission from the matchday squads, Ben Youssef vehemently stressed that only 11 players can be fielded, with nine substitutes as per FIFA rules.

“Unfortunately, in football we have to use only 11 players and we have nine substitutions. So, if every press conference we discuss about the players out of the squad, we don't have a solution. The only solution is if FIFA allows us to play with 20 players then we can find a solution to this,” he lashed out.

"When Ethan [Chislett] plays, [you ask] why Ethan don't play, when Velebayi plays, why Baartman doesn't play - how can we do it? How many players can we use? We have 11 players to start and nine substitutes - we have 38 players.

The Tunisian mentor also touched on the reason behind constantly introducing Mfundo Vilakazi off the bench when the team is either drawing or losing.

“Vilakazi started a lot of matches, he comes from bench when we win, Vilakazi comes on when we make a draw. He's one of our players, he has to be ready,” Ben Youssef added.

"If we need him to start he must start, if we need him to play 10 minutes he will play 10 minute. He's part of the team and he has to be ready for the moment that he will play.

Chiefs will be looking to bounce back when they lock horns with arch rivals Orlando Pirates in the highly-anticipated Soweto derby at FNB Stadium on Saturday, 28 February.