|
Ajax Cape Town are likely to take their bid to keep Zimbabwe international Tendai Ndoro on the pitch all the way to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after losing another key battle on Tuesday. South Africa's High Court dismissed Ajax's appeal against a ruling by arbitrator Nassir Cassim that they stop using Ndoro in matches before the case is heard by FIFA. Ajax remain steadfast in their belief that they can use the striker, seemingly in contravention of FIFA regulations, in a matter that is getting more messy, and expensive for all involved, by the day. The Urban Warriors are Ndoro's third club this season after he appeared for Orlando Pirates at the beginning of the campaign before a move to Saudi Arabia side Al-Faisaly. FIFA does not allow for players to feature for three sides in a single season, though it is a rule that is often circumvented and, Ajax claim, open to interpretation. Ndoro's situation is further complicated by the fact that he left Al-Faisaly having not been paid for several months, which he and Ajax claim was a breach of his contract and therefore he was 'rescued' from an untenable situation. They maintain that to have the player sit on the sidelines from January to July, when the next season starts, would be unfair punishment for a player who has done nothing wrong, and who needs to earn an income. Those are indeed good points and on the face of it the club certainly has a case, but after initially being boosted in their efforts by a Premier Soccer League (PSL) Dispute Resolution Chamber decision to allow him to play, they have now had a number of set-backs. It is also a case that involves a number of other interested parties, essentially any side that, like Ajax, is involved in the relegation scrap. Ajax are adamant they should not give up the points they have earned in the matches Ndoro has played, because when they fielded him they had permission to do so by the PSL DRC. Their trouble started when the league challenged that decision after Orlando Pirates and Polokwane City brought the matter before the PSL's Disciplinary Committee (DC), a different body to the DRC. Again, Ajax came out on top, with the DC dismissing the complaints, which then sent the matter to arbitration as those with vested interests kept on fighting. In his findings, Cassim said that the matter is one for FIFA, not only it is their regulation that has possibly been flouted, but the case involves a team from outside of South Africa in Al-Faisaly. Ajax were not able to field Ndoro in Tuesday's vital Absa Premiership clash with fellow strugglers AmaZulu, and their options now are to move on with the rest of the season without the forward, or keep on fighting. Ndoro has hardly set the league alight since his return with just a single goal, scored on his debut, in seven hours of football. However, the truth is that Ajax need all the help they can get in their battle to avoid the drop. There are two more reasons why they may be clinging so desperately to the issue. The first is that a finding against them by FIFA could well see them lose the points they have gained with Ndoro in the team, which could have the effect of sealing their automatic relegation. Of course, if the points are handed to their opponents then that may have a big say at the top of the table too with Pirates gaining three in their battle for the league title with Mamelodi Sundowns. The second is to save the skins of those administrators at the club who have sunk enormous amounts of money into the process so far and are ultimately answerable to the team's majority shareholder, Ajax Amsterdam. The process would likely have not got this far without the Dutch club's backing, but for them to be on the wrong side of the result at the end of the day would be devastating. It used to be that the South African league would be plunged into chaos just about every season with disputes, usually around the relegation scrap. That has not happened in many a year, so this season is something of a throw-back. However, it could be disastrous for image of the league if the final table is decided in the court room and not on the pitch.
|
