Ajax upset by cancellation

Ajax Cape Town are “extremely disappointed” that their clash with English giants Liverpool at the Cape Town Stadium will not take place. This, after the Premier League side confirmed on Friday that the Reds’ planned visit to Cape Town to face Ajax Cape Town on May 21 had been canceled. The proposed match ran into unforeseen problems when the Premier Soccer League (PSL) objected to the match scheduling four days before the Nedbank Cup final on Saturday 25 May. An official statement released by Ajax said: “Ajax Cape Town and Liverpool Football Club were scheduled to take part in a match in Cape Town on Tuesday 21 May. “For Ajax Cape Town and City, this match represented an opportunity to showcase Cape Town and welcome Liverpool to South Africa for the first time in 19 years. “Unfortunately, the Premier Soccer League refused to approve the match on that date and Liverpool subsequently informed Ajax Cape Town that the match could not take place. “We are extremely disappointed that we will not be able to attend this event and see our team and Liverpool take the field and play in front of our fantastic fans and the many Capetonians who support Liverpool.” Meanwhile, the PSL has sought to keep the main sponsors of the South African elite, Nedbank and Absa, of any influence on the football body decision to veto the Reds’ clash with the Urban Warriors “The Premier Soccer League (PSL) officially declares. its sponsors Nedbank and ABSA were not involved in the PSL’s decision to deny permission to Ajax Cape Town and Liverpool. “The match will take place on May 21, 2013 as requested,” the Premiership announced on its official website on Thursday. “PSL President Dr Irvin Khoza stressed that the decision was not made easily as the Liverpool match against Ajax was in all respects well for the PSL and football in South Africa. This is due to Liverpool’s stature and the support it enjoys in our country and around the world. created for the PSL and SAFA to address issues affecting both organizations. The Committee added the item to its agenda and duly deliberated on the matter. “The date of Sunday 26 May 2013 was the earliest date deemed suitable by the Joint Liaison Committee for the match to be held. The date was however deemed unsuitable for Ajax as Liverpool were only available on another day “The PSL management refused permission for the match to take place on May 21, 2013, as this date was before the end of the PSL season. “Sponsors Nedbank and ABSA were therefore not approached and therefore could not be party to the decision.”