Ajax Cape Town have confirmed that they will launch an interdict to have the start of the new Premier Soccer League (PSL) season‚ scheduled for the weekend of August 3-5‚ halted while the matter involving Tendai Ndoro is still before the courts.
Ajax were finalising their papers yesterday and will be approaching the South Gauteng High Court as soon as possible to have their case heard.
At the same time‚ the club will be opposing the PSL’s application for leave to appeal Judge Denise Fisher’s setting aside of an arbitration ruling in the eligibility case of Ndoro that had seen Ajax relegated at the end of last season.
Fisher ruled earlier this month that the arbitration award of Advocate William Mokhari should be set aside as the correct forum to hear the matter was Fifa’s Player Status Committee.
Ajax will also launch an application that says should Fisher give the PSL the right to appeal her verdict‚ it will still stand until that process is complete.
And club CEO Ari Efstathiou told reporters yesterday that he believes if the matter is sent to Fifa‚ they will again return it to Safa and PSL as there are bodies within those organisations such as the Dispute Resolution Chamber‚ which originally found in the favour of Ajax in the matter‚ to hear such cases.
“Ajax have stated time again that we are willing to sit around the table and discuss a solution with all the interested parties‚ but this has been rebuffed‚” said Efstathiou.
Efstathiou also says the fact that the PSL’s eight-member executive committee‚ the body that first made the decision to appeal the DRC’s initial findings in favour of Ajax and has now subsequently decided to appeal the judgment of Fisher‚ has been conflicted in their decision-making all along is an issue that needs to be discussed.
The committee is made up of Irvin Khoza (Orlando Pirates)‚ Kaizer Motaung (Kaizer Chiefs)‚ Mato Madlala (Lamontville Golden Arrows)‚ Stanley Matthews (SuperSport United)‚ David Thidiela (Black Leopards)‚ Jose Ferreira (Bidvest Wits)‚ Rejoice Vakashile Simelane (Mamelodi Sundowns) and Khumbulani Konco (Bloemfontein Celtic).
“At the time Pirates were going for the league‚ while Golden Arrows‚ Wits‚ SuperSport and Celtic were facing possible relegation‚ so they were conflicted in the decision to appeal the outcome of the DRC‚” said Efstathiou.
“With the decision to appeal the judgment of Judge Fisher‚ Leopards and SuperSport‚ who want to be given a place in the MTN8‚ are conflicted as well.”
Efstathiou also questioned why SuperSport‚ when they tried to register Lebo Manyama last season‚ were warned by the PSL about the three-club rule‚ but Ajax had not received the same courtesy.
Mokhari stripped Ajax of the points gained in wins over Platinum Stars and SuperSport as well as a draw with Polokwane City‚ last season and awarded the matches 3-0 to their opponents. — DDC..