Sono promises his side will be better
JOMO’S CHOICE: LEOPARDS FAVOURITES FOR PROMOTION
However, he feels he has spotted some weaknesses.
Jomo Cosmos coach Jomo Sono has declared Black Leopards as favourites for promotion after the Limpopo giants beat his side 3-0 on the final day of National First Division (NFD) games, to finish second and qualify for the play-offs, set to start next Wednesday.
Sono, however, said his side will be better than the one who were chasing shadows on Sunday afternoon when the teams meet in the play-offs on May 20, as they would have had a better understanding of how Lidoda Duvha play.
“They just beat us 3-0, so they are obviously the favourites,” said Sono in a post-match interview.
Cosmos went into Sunday’s match having already secured their spot in the play-offs. Leopards will begin their bid for promotion against the team who finishes 15th in the Absa Premiership on May 16.
Leopards coach Joel Masutha said this time they are in it to win it as he feels it is high time they got back to the top flight.
“It was not easy but we made it look easy,” he said of the win over Cosmos. He admitted the play-offs will be a tough hurdle. “That’s going to be a mountain but we have to climb it. It will help that we will get to watch them (the 15th-placed Premiership side) when they play their final games this weekend. We will be watching those games to familiarise ourselves with whoever we will be playing.”
Leopards’ display at the weekend left almost everyone thinking they are favourites to win promo- tion and Masutha doesn’t deny it.
“We can try and deny it ... but at the same time it motivates us to work even harder to try and jump this hurdle. We have been here in the last four years and this time we have to go all the way and get into the Premiership.
“I am happy my players are fighting for it. Our togetherness is paying dividends now,” he said.
May 16: Black Leopards v 15thplace in Premiership.
May 20: Jomo Cosmos v Black Leopards.
May 23: 15th-place v Jomo Cosmos.
May 26: 15th-place v Black Leopards.
May 30: Black Leopards v Jomo Cosmos.
June 2: Jomo Cosmos v 15thplace.