WATCH: Ajax Cape Town accept NFD fate

Ajax Cape Town chief executive Ari Efstathiou says that the club will have to look at its playing and overall staff complement now that they will play in the NFD. Photo: Ayanda Ndamane/African News Agency/ANA

Ajax Cape Town chief executive Ari Efstathiou says that the club will have to look at its playing and overall staff complement now that they will play in the NFD. Photo: Ayanda Ndamane/African News Agency/ANA

Published Jul 27, 2018

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CAPE TOWN – Following a protracted legal battle – which is still ongoing in some instances – Ajax Cape Town have now accepted their fate of playing in the National First Division in the new season.

At a press conference at their headquarters Ikamva in Parow on Friday, chief executive Ari Efstathiou and Advocate Norman Arendse explained the process of what happened at the South Gauteng High Court on Thursday, where the Urban Warriors eventually decided against launching a bid for an interdict to stop the league from starting next weekend.

At the heart of the matter is Tendai Ndoro’s eligibility, and on Thursday, Judge Denise Fisher granted the Premier Soccer League leave to appeal her ruling to set aside a previous finding by Advocate William Mokhari, who determined that Ajax’s opponents against whom Ndoro was involved – Platinum Stars, Polokwane City and SuperSport United – should be handed three points each.

That saw Ajax lose seven points, which they had earned by beating Platinum and SuperSport, and drawing with Polokwane.

This resulted in Ajax’s automatic relegation instead of ending in 15th position, which would’ve seen them contest the promotion-relegation playoffs.

Once Fisher allowed the PSL leave to appeal, Ajax Cape Town considered their options, and after brief talks with partners Ajax Amsterdam, they opted not to seek an interdict.

Ajax still intend to go through with an appeal to the PSL.

“We want to get ourselves out of the NFD. Obviously there are going to be major changes that we will have to look at with regards to playing staff, technical teams, the staff complement at the club,” Efstathiou said in a video clip posted on Ajax’s Twitter account.

“You can obviously understand the financial implications of moving from one division to the other are huge.”

🎥| #UrbanWarriors CEO Ari Efstathiou:

“Ajax Cape Town will be back, and we will be back in the #AbsaPrem for the 2019-20 season.” #NdoroGate #WeAreAjaxCT🔴 1/3 pic.twitter.com/cF90UChKuM

— Ajax Cape Town (@ajaxcapetown) July 27, 2018

@ashfakmohamed

 

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