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Cosmos on impossible mission
21/04/2008 15:30 - (SA)
Johannesburg - A simple case of addition and Jomo Cosmos will live to see another season in the Absa Premiership, but realistically, their task is not as easy as adding 21 plus 15.
If Cosmos remain where they are - in 15th place - until the end of this season, they will contest a promotional play-off tournament with three teams from the National First Division (NFD) for a place in the Absa Premiership.
With 21 points to their credit and five games remaining, it's virtually impossible to believe they will move up from their disadvantaged position on the log.
Even if they win all their remaining games to finish with 36 points, they still have to hope either 13th placed Bloemfontein Celtic - on 27 points - and 14th placed Thanda Royal Zulu - on 24 points - lose at least three games for them to avoid the play-offs.
Cosmos team manager Andrew Rabutla is off the notion his side can move on up.
"The motivation is there, we know what our goal is and we know we can do it," Rabutla said enthusiastically.
Motivation is high
"It's going to be tough but we believe we have the quality and experience to win our last five games, it's not impossible," the former SA defender said.
"We are not even looking at what the other teams (Celtic and TRZ) have to do. We are only looking at our position and I tell you our motivation is high. We are not thinking about play-offs or relegation, our objective is to win, win and win.
Cosmos have only won twice this season. If there is one positive to look at from the season it's the number of goals they conceded - 21. Only log leaders SuperSport United and Kaizer Chiefs have conceded - 19 and 18 respectively - less than Ezenkosi.
This resolute defence has led to Cosmos drawing an incredible 15 times in 25 outings and despite the enviable statistic of conceding less than most Premiership teams, they also have the unenviable sign of scoring the least - a paltry 12 goals.
In their two victories against SuperSport and Moroka Swallows they netted five times, 2-1 and 3-1 against the respective teams but for the better part of the season they have struggled to score more than once. Of their 15 draws one ended 2-2, 10 ended 0-0.
Positive results
This weekend Cosmos host Golden Arrows, who beat them 2-0 in the first round, and with the 4th placed visitors battling for a top eight finish it's hard to see Cosmos getting maximum points here.
Next up (April 30) they face the disappointing Celtic at the Seisa Ramabodu Stadium. Although Celtic is fairly safe they still need positive results, meaning against Cosmos a draw will go a long way in ensuring their stay in the Premiership. They did beat Cosmos 2-0 last year.
The revitalised Sundowns travel to Orkney on May 6 and again it's impossible seeing Cosmos beating a side also fighting for a top eight place. They drew 2-2 in their first round fixture and Cosmos can be expected to up the ante against the five-time league champs.
Black Leopards visit Orkney eight days later and while they have no hope of escaping relegation, they surely can put off Cosmos' hopes of escaping the play-offs. They drew 0-0 in their first round fixture.
Their final game is away to Thanda Royal Zulu who beat them 2-1 in their first round encounter. Depending on both team's results in the previous four games, this game will either decide who goes in to a play-off or it will just be a match that Cosmos can use as preparation for the play-offs.
- SAPA
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