Ajax Cape Town CEO Ari Efstathiou insists his side have a strong court case bid in an attempt to overrule their automatic relegation following the Tendai Ndoro saga.

The Urban Warriors were docked seven points from the Absa Premiership matches in which they illegally fielded striker Ndoro. The decision saw Ajax lose their 15th-placed position in the season-ending league standings and were thus automatically relegated, with Platinum Stars taking their place in the promotion/relegation playoffs.

Ajax attempted to halt the playoffs with a court interdict. They, however, had that case rejected and will now again turn to the courts in an attempt to get their position reinstated and have the playoffs replayed.

Efstathiou has explained the club’s thinking in continuing their court battle, insisting the Cape side have a strong case in the fight to maintain their spot.

‘The court application has two legs to it,’ Efstathiou told KickOff.com. ‘The one leg was to halt the playoffs the same day, which the judge didn’t grant us, and the second thing we asked was for the arbitrator William Mokhari’s SC ruling to be reviewed, and that part will be heard on the 14 and 15 June in the High Court.

‘I think we have a strong case, and we wouldn’t be fighting it if we didn’t think we had an opportunity or good chance [of winning]. We still believe that we’ve acted correctly and are in our rights to keep our position in 15th.’

Efstathiou admitted that it has been a difficult period for Ajax, who are simply doing what any other club would do if placed in the same situation.

‘For any club, it would be difficult, but I think we’re acting in a way that any other club would act,’ he said. ‘You need to protect your rights if you believe you are right, and protect the position we’re entitled to have to be in the playoffs, and that’s what we’re doing, nothing less,’ he concluded.