Cosmos unaligned in NFD
IN THE marathon that is the battle to gain promotion from the NFD up to the lucrative Absa Premiership, the most important thing is how you finish the season.
A good start is, of course, ideal as it helps build a team’s confidence, and gathering the points when the other teams are still trying to find their feet, is always better.
It is a long haul, this 30-match campaign though, and over the seasons the league table always looks completely different come May than it does now in September.
No doubt Jomo Sono would be telling his team not to be overly concerned about having to look up at the likes of AmaZulu and Black Leopards – the season’s early pace-setters who are first and second with 10 and seven points from their four matches, respectively.
Back in the second tier following their relegation from the elite division on the final day of the previous campaign, Ezenkosi have taken some time to find their footing.
Only on Sunday did they register their first win – Cosmos beating Mthatha Bucks 1-0 courtesy of a goal by Mxolisi Macuphu.
Coming as it did on the back of two draws and a defeat, the victory would have been mightily welcome as Cosmos look to steadily climb up the table – they are still at the lower half, positioned 11th and trailing Usuthu by five points.
Cosmos, however, know it will take a lot of work to regain their Premiership status.
But what would have pleased coach Sono is the fact that his team have scored in all their four matches and he need only shore up his defence and Cosmos will be A-for-Away in their quest for a swift return to the elite league.
But AmaZulu have put down the marker and they were ruthless at the weekend as they hammered the University of Pretoria 3-0 thanks to a Siyabonga Nomvethe brace, as well as a strike by Mabhuti Khenyeza.
Also showing their intention to return to the top league were Black Leopards who clobbered Milano United 4-0. Sphelele Mkhulise treated himself to a brace, while Ivan Mahangwahaya and Phathutshedzo Nange also registered their names on the scoresheet.
With all the teams – except bottom-placed Cape Town All Stars – having registered wins, this promises to be a tightly-contested NFD campaign, and no doubt Sono will be banking on his vast experience of leading his team to promotion, to come in handy.