Ajax, PSL fight gets to a climax
Season’s kick-off may be halted
The stand-off between Ajax Cape Town and the Premier Soccer League (PSL) over the drawn-out Tendai Ndoro eligibility saga stepped up a notch after the Mother City club was given a court date in their bid to interdict the start of the upcoming Absa premiership season.
The season is scheduled to kick off on August 3, but Ajax want it halted until the Ndoro matter is resolved.
A PSL insider said the Ajax interdict would be heard at the South Gauteng High Court on Tuesday.
It is understood that the PSL’s leave to appeal application against Judge Denise Fisher’s decision to set aside Advocate William Mokhari’s ruling to relegate Ajax might only be heard sometime next week.
Judge Fisher ruled on July 2 that the arbitration awarded by Mokhari should be set aside as the right place to hear the matter was Fifa’s player status committee.
Early this week, Ajax CEO Ari Efstathiou vowed to also challenge the PSL’s application for leave to appeal Fisher’s verdict. So, whatever the outcome of Tuesday’s application‚ it will not be the end of the matter.
Efstathiou said should Fisher give the PSL right to appeal her decision‚ they would also stand their ground until the process is completed.
“Ajax have stated that we are willing to discuss with all the interested parties‚ but this has been rebuffed‚” Efstathiou said.
“We are now left with no option but to proceed with the action we are taking.”
‘‘ Whatever the outcome on Tuesday‚ it won’t be end of the matter