Drama after Ajax told to agree to hearing before Chiefs clash
IN a dramatic twist to the on-going saga around Tendai Ndoro‚ the Premier Soccer League (PSL) is demanding that Ajax Cape Town agree to an arbitration hearing before the end of the week even as the club prepares for one of the most important games in its history. A letter from PSL prosecutor Nande Becker sent to the clubs on Tuesday insisted that Ajax agree to an arbitration hearing as “in view of the most urgency” today and tomorrow or‚ if necessary even on the weekend‚ to put the Ndoro matter to bed before next week’s kick off of the end-of-season promotionrelegation play-offs. This is despite the club looking to focus their energies as they head to Saturday’s must-win match against Kaizer Chiefs at the Cape Town Stadium where they are hoping to avoid finishing second last in the PSL standings and being forced into the play-offs. The PSL prosecutor insisted that Ajax must accept the first of three arbitrators who have been put forward for them to choose from‚ because the other two are not available this week. Parties to an arbitration are given a choice of three arbitrators‚ usually senior advocates‚ to hear the matter and if they cannot agree the South African Football Association (Safa) makes the choice.
The Ndoro matter is headed back for a second arbitration‚ arranged by Safa‚ after the first arbitration said the PSL DRC had no jurisdiction over the matter and that it should be sorted out by Fifa.
But world football’s governing body Fifa have twice kicked the matter back‚ saying South AfricAfrican football’s fulsome legal structures should resolresolve the on-going saga.
The last correcorrespondence from Fifa‚ rejecting a second PSL bid to get them to rule in the matter‚ was sent on April 24‚ more thanTh than two weeks ago.
This raises questions abouabout the sudden urgency on tthe part of the PSL when the new arbitration procprocess could have been set up much quicker.
The issue of whether NdoNdoro should have played for AjaxA in seven matches this seasons has dominated the legal agenda since JanuJanuary‚ but still without resolresolution in a saga that is bebecoming increasingly embembarrassing for the leaguleague. — TimesLive