Ajax boss fumes
2008-05-16 10:18
Johannesburg - Ajax Cape Town chairperson John Comitis is livid after his side drew 1-1 against Santos in an Absa Premiership derby at the Athlone Stadium on Thursday night.
The result badly dents the Urban Warriors' title hopes as they travel to the King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi outside Durban for their final premiership fixture of the season.
League leaders SuperSport United need just a draw from their last fixture against Bloemfontein Celtic at the Seisa Ramabodu Stadium on what many hoped would be "Super Sunday" to end the season. Both matches kick-off at 15:00.
What has irritated the Ajax chief is a goal in the 57th minute scored by striker Nathan Paulse that was disallowed by the referee.
Said an angry Comitis: "I have watched the replay over and over and feel sick. It was a good goal. It could cost us the league title. It was a huge, huge decision and has major implications for the title race and hit my players pockets.
"The same thing happened to us three years ago. I am bitterly disappointed.
"It is not so much the referee I am fed up with but those who appointed him. He was not up to such a big game. It was not his fault he was not up for the game as he should not have been appointed.
Draw
"It is the people who appoint referees who should be slammed. The game almost got violent. The people who select referees should have known the significance of this match and appointed a top referee to handle it."
The draw still keeps Ajax hopes of winning their first Premiership alive, but only just.
Now they have to rely on Celtic to topple leaders SuperSport United and they must beat Arrows in Durban.
Stormed Comitis: "The draw is not the end of the world but I feel ill for my players. They have achieved so much and deserved to go to Durban to play Arrows level with United. Now we have to hope Celtic will play with pride and try and beat United. It is not an ideal situation to be in but there is still hope and we will not give up until the final whistle."
If United lose and Ajax win then both would end on 54 points. The Cape outfit would pip United for the championship on a superior goal difference.
United who like the Urban Warriors are aiming at winning their first title play Celtic to end their programme now needing just a point to be crowned champions.
But coach Gavin Hunt is determined to win in style: "I would have preferred Ajax to have beaten Santos. But we will now be able to go to Bloemfontein and win the title the right way on the pitch by beating Celtic."
History is on Hunt's side. He has not been beaten as a coach at Seisa Ramabodu stadium in his last four visits there.
- SAPA