As they wait to see the outcome of their High Court case regarding the Tendai Ndoro saga, Ajax Cape Town coach Muhsin Ertugral says he is working hard with his men in training.
The Turkish mentor said he cannot leave the club in such a predicament after they were relegated to the National First Division in May.
After finishing 15th in the Premier Soccer League last season, the Urban Warriors were docked points and were eventually demoted to the bottom of the table.
The decision came after the PSL and the South African Football Association found the club guilty of using Ndoro because he was ineligible to play for the club in the first place.
Safa then announced on May 15 that Ajax would be relegated after arbitrator William Mokhari docked them points for fielding the Zimbabwean forward in games against Polokwane City, Platinum Stars and SuperSport United.
Next Match
The case resulted after Ndoro was ruled ineligible to play, according to Fifa rules, because he had already played for two other sides, Orlando Pirates and Al Faisaly in Saudi Arabia, in the 2017/18 season.
However, the Ikamva-based side is in the South Gauteng High Court in an attempt to get Mokhari’s decision reviewed and overturned for them to be reinstated in 15th place and be eligible to play in the play-offs.
The former Kaizer Chiefs and Pirates mentor said the decision to relegate Ajax shocked many people he spoke to during his holiday in Europe.
“We have started in a rhythm of one day a session, and then one day off,” said Ertugral to Phakaathi.
“By the end of the week I think we will know (what will happen),” he said.
“I have been in Europe and asked a couple of other people how it was done in their country. In federations on that side, everyone was surprised by how it has been handled, but we will see how it goes at the end of the day,” added the Ajax coach.
“At this point I can’t leave the club in this situation. So, obviously at the moment I am with the team. The play-offs, I don’t know (if they can be replayed) because of the time factor. I don’t know, we are waiting for the decision, then I can start to plan,” he concluded.
