Ajax plot way back into play-offs

Warriors return to court this week after demotion

Ajax Cape Town hope to force a replay of the Premier Soccer League Promotion/Relegation Play-offs this week when they return to the South Gauteng High Court on Thursday and Friday.

Ajax players arrived back at Ikamva for their pre-season training yesterday‚ with preparations starting in earnest tomorrow, as the club confirmed they would be retaining the services of coach Muhsin Ertugral.

It has been a month’s break for the Urban Warriors since their final league game last season‚ a 2-1 home loss to Kaizer Chiefs on May 12.

Ajax were stopped from competing in the play-offs following the decision of arbiter William Mokhare to dock them points from three matches that pushed them to the foot of the Absa Premiership table, leading to an automatic relegation.

Ajax claim that Mokhare’s decision‚ which included that the points be awarded to their opponents‚ was unprecedented and overly harsh‚ and they are looking to have the ruling set aside.

Ajax are accused of fielding Zimbabwean striker Tendai Ndoro improperly as they are his third club of the season‚ which is against Fifa rules. But the Urban Warriors say they had a mandate from the PSL’s Dispute Resolution Chamber after the latter initially ruled in their favour on the matter.

That review will be heard in the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg, and if Ajax are successful‚ will see the side returned to 15th position in the league and force a replay of the play-offs‚ which has been won by Black Leopards already, unless the PSL can come up with an alternate solution.