It’s win or bust for Ajax
Ndoro saga clouds chances of survival
Ajax Cape Town have to believe that they will beat Kaizer Chiefs or they are doomed for the promotion-relegation playoffs‚ Urban Warriors coach Muhsin Ertugral has said.
After losing 3-1 to Mamelodi Sundowns at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday, Ajax remain rooted in second-last place with 31 points and have to beat Chiefs at Cape Town Stadium in the Absa Premiership’s final round on May 12‚ and hope for other teams to lose‚ to escape the play-offs.
“We have to believe in that‚ that we will beat Chiefs‚” Ertugral said. “I mean‚ we have beaten so many good teams this season‚ including Orlando Pirates at home 3-0, so this team can win at home.”
Three teams – 12th-placed Baroka (on 34 points)‚ 13th-placed Polokwane City (33) and 14thplaced SuperSport United
(33) – can conceivably fall below Ajax into the play-offs. Last-placed Platinum Stars‚ on 21 points‚ have already been automatically relegated. However, even that is complicated by the saga of the eligibility of Ajax striker Tendai Ndoro‚ over a Fifa ruling that bars players from turning out for more than two clubs in a season.
It could see the Urban Warriors having as many as 10 points deducted. Ertugral‚ though‚ continues to put on a brave face.
Their best-case scenario is that they beat Chiefs on May 12‚ other results go their way and they have no points deducted‚ so avoid the playoffs. Another scenario is they beat Chiefs‚ have three points deducted and still have to compete in the play-offs. Ajax’s worst-case scenario is they have all 10 points deducted‚ having not beaten Chiefs‚ and Platinum Stars beat Bidvest Wits in Rustenburg on May 12 to move to within seven points of the Capetonians. This would mean automatic relegation for Ajax.