South African PSL to appeal the High Court ruling on Ajax-Tendai Ndoro saga

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Friday Jul 06, 2018. 15:00

The Premier Soccer League debacle involving Ajax Cape Town and striker Tendai Ndoro looks set to drag on.

This comes after the league’s governing body’s executive committee met on Thursday to discuss the way forward regarding the South Gauteng High Court’s decision on Monday.

Judge Denise Fisher ruled in favour of the Urban Warriors this week after the club was docked points and relegated to the National First Division.

Ajax were found guilty of using the Zimbabwean striker for representing three clubs in one season and they were docked points allowing Platinum Stars to play in the PSL/NFD play-offs.

Resulting from the play-offs, Black Leopards emerged as victors, but Fisher’s ruling set aside the initial decision by the South African Football Association’s arbitrator William Mokhari, thus seeing Ajax back to the15th spot.

However, the PSL chairman Dr. Irvin Khoza announced on Thursday that they will appeal the court’s ruling which means the saga will drag on and possibly delay the start of the 2018/19 PSL season.

“We arrived at a conclusion that the judgement that was handed down must be appealed,” Khoza said in statement according to the Independent Media Online.

“The facts and the details (of why we are appealing) must be referred to the Board of Governors who will convene an emergency meeting next week (on Thursday).

"They will then ratify that decision. We will ask for the indulgence of the media and the public to first give the Board of Governors a chance to evaluate the reasons we have provided as to why we haven’t opted for the directive as prescribed by the judgement but we are appealing the matter.

"It’s only on Thursday, after giving the reasons to the Board of Governors will we release the reasons to the greater public – the fans, sponsors, SAFA and everyone affected by the matter.

"There has been concern by many that the continuous court battles could potentially hamper the start of the new season, but Khoza is adamant that the league will do everything in their power to avoid such a scenario.

“What is important is that we are trying to address the matter as a matter of extreme emergency so that it doesn’t affect the start of the season.

“We are working towards the league starting on time. In life there are no certainties. That’s why next week we are having an extra-ordinary Board of Governors meeting.”