Jomo still hopeful
2008-05-08 14:07
Johannesburg - Jomo Cosmos' Absa Premiership fate is in their own hands, but club owner and head coach Jomo Sono, is confident Ezenkosi will beat relegation.
Sono will not be pushing any panic buttons or putting any extra pressure on his players over the next 11 days when Ezenkosi's fate will be decided after they play the other two relegation candidates, Black Leopards and Thanda Royal Zulu, before completing their season.
Sono was as cool as the proverbial cucumber despite his side's heartbreaking 1-0 loss to defending Absa Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns at Orkney's Oppenheimer Stadium on Wednesday.
Even the fact Downs substitute Bryan Aldave netted with seconds of injury time remaining, failed to rattle the Black Prince.
Sono was open and to the point in an interview afterwards. He said: "If we had played badly I would have been annoyed and worried about our future. As it is we played well, matched Sundowns pound for pound and together we produced a quality match. Sundowns must also take credit for making this a really entertaining match."
Cosmos will play the other sides in the relegation struggle - Leopards and Royal Zulu - during the next 11 days.
Mini-revival
Cosmos have the same number of points (22) as Leopards but have played a match more and have one less than third from bottom Royal Zulu.
Cosmos host Leopards who have enjoyed a mini-revival under new coach Sheppard Murape either at Orkney or at Potchefstroom's Olen Park next Wednesday. Leopards host Golden Arrows at Thohoyandou on Saturday and Royal Zulu play title chasing Santos in Hammersdale on Sunday.
Said Sono: "It is our home match and there is a possibility we could switch the game to Potchefstroom." Ezenkosi end their campaign away to Royal Zulu at the Absa Stadium next Sunday (18 May).
Said Sono: "It is simple. If we win both our remaining matches against the other two teams in the relegation fight, then we will be safe. I see no reason after the way we played against Sundowns and against Bloemfontein Celtic last weekend, to doubt we have the ability to survive and beat the drop."
On the loss to Downs Sono was philosophical: "That is football. I have been in this position before, so one must take the good with the bad. I am not upset for myself, but I feel bad for my players who had performed so well and battled hard to get something from the game."
But the biggest worry for Sono is the fact his side have scored only 13 goals in 28 league fixtures.
Said Sono: "The ball simply won't go into the net. It is certainly not running for us. I do not know what is wrong but it will come right and I have every confidence Cosmos will rise to the occasion during our last two matches. We all know what is at stake - our PSL survival and we are determined to be playing in the PSL next season."
Downs, who reached the final of the Nedbank Cup by beating AmaZulu 1-0 in Potchefstroom last Sunday, are confident that they can overturn the 4-2 African Champions League third round, first leg loss to Sudan champions Al Hilal suffered recently in Khartoum, when they host Al Hilal in their second leg clash at the Super Stadium on Sunday at 15:00.
- SAPA