Irvin Khoza: Tendai Ndoro should’ve checked his status with Fifa

The Premier Soccer League chairman Dr. Irvin Khoza has blamed former Ajax Cape Town striker Tendai Ndoro for causing trouble in the league.

Khoza believes if Ndoro went to Fifa Players’ Status Committee before signing for the Cape club, the saga surrounding his eligibilty would not have unfolded.

The ongoing impasse resulted after the Zimbabwean striker joined the Urban Warriors after playing for Orlando Pirates and Saudi Arabia’s Al Faisaly in one season.

Following his move to Ajax, clubs such as Polokwane City, Platinum Stars and SuperSport United protested over his participation.

The PSL’s Dispute Resolution (PSL DRC) cleared the striker to play in the league, but the PSL appealed the decision and the matter was taken to the South African Football Association (Safa) who later took it to Fifa.

Fifa decided to refer the matter back to South Africa and it was decided by Safa arbitrator William Mokhari that Mushin Ertugral’s men were guilty of fielding the player and were docked points, thus resulting in their relegation to the National First Division.

However, Ajax appealed via the South Gauteng High Court and Judge Denise Fisher ruled in favour of the Ikamva-based club to reinstate their 15th place finish.

Moreover, the PSL has resolved to apply for leave to appeal Fisher’s decision‚ which ordered the Ndoro matter to be sent to the Fifa Players’ Status Committee.

“Ndoro could have resolved this matter if he had gone to the Fifa Players’ Status Committee first to clarify his position‚” Khoza was quoted as saying by SowetanLive.

“On the issue of Judge Fisher we are saying that the way it comes across as is that all matters that have got an international dimension must first go to Fifa before they are resolved [locally],” said the chairman.

“Imagine if we got matters of 20 people who are affected and had international dimension. It means their matters must first go to Fifa before they are resolved,” he continued.

“The crux of the matter here is that Ndoro could have resolved this matter if he went to Fifa Players’ Status Committee first to clarify his position,” Khoza told the media.

“If he plays without that determination he is a defaulter or ineligible [to play] before his status is clarified as to as whether he can play for three teams in one season,” said the Pirates chairman.

 “If we succeed with our leave to appeal‚ it means Mokhari’s decision stands and so the matter ends there,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Ajax reportedly threatened to interdict the start of the new PSL season on August 04, but were yet to clarify their next move after Thursday’s PSL Board of Governors meeting in Sandton‚ which endorsed PSL’s executive committee decision to appeal Judge Fisher’s ruling.