Relegation showdown looms
WITH the PSL’s promotion-relegation playoffs all square at the halfway stage with each of the three sides having claimed a victory, tomorrow’s clash between Jomo Cosmos and Black Leopards could prove to be an eliminator for the loser.
Cosmos thumped Moroka Swallows 4-1 on Sunday to catapult themselves to the top of the minileague on goal difference, and they will hope to take that momentum into tomorrow’s match as well, another to be played in front of their home fans.
But Leopards dispatched Cosmos easily in the first meeting between the two in Thohoyandou, which proved a continuation of their recent dominance over Ezenkosi.
Leopards have won four of the five meetings since the start of the 2013-14 season, with the other drawn, and have in fact only lost once to Cosmos in their last 10 clashes. That was over four years ago in April 2011.
Leopards coach Zeca Marques said he was not surprised at the tight nature of the playoffs so far. “The Cosmos win opens everything up again and puts them very much back in the frame,” Marques says. “But I was expecting it to be like this because we are talking about three very good teams, so anybody can win.
“Jomo has been itching to get back into the PSL for a long time now and he is not about to let this opportunity slip without a fight.”
Leopards lost their last tie 2-0 at Swallows, but Marques says confidence in the camp remains high as the result did not reflect their performances.
“The mood is great, the first goal against Swallows was a mistake and changed the dynamic of the game as before that we had some really great chances. The result was not a reflection of the game and we know that, so the players remain confident.
“We will take that into the game against Cosmos and be positive that we can get a result to take us one step closer to the PSL.”