New players, new hope
The owner of Jomo Cosmos (Ezenkosi) Dr Jomo Sono finally speaks out about his two key team players who left the club at the end of the first half of the 2017-2018 season.
At the beginning of the second half of the season Linda (Figo) Mtambo and Mxolisi Macuphu joined Chippa United FC who are playing in the PSL.
Dr Sono spoke to Kathorus MAIL on Sunday, January 14, after the game against Cape Town All Stars at Vosloorus Stadium. He explained how Mtambo and Macuphu’s departure will destabilise his team’s chances of getting promoted.
“There is nothing I could have done to keep these two players. Their contracts were coming to an end at the end of the current season. Had I kept them any longer, they would have left anyway when their contracts expired. They were in their last six months of their contracts with us, so I had to sell them and make money for the team instead of allowing them to leave for free at the end of their contracts. Chippa Mpengesi (owner of Chippa United FC) made good offers for them and that is why they wanted to go,” said Dr Sono.
He said he would have loved to keep at least his captain Mtambo.
“If I were to choose whom to keep between Mtambo and Macuphu, I would have kept Mtambo. It is not that Macuphu is not good, it is just that Mtambo’s contribution was huge,” said Dr Sono.
He said their departure was a huge blow to his team’s chances of getting promoted.
“As you can see this is the second game we have played since they have left. We lost the first one against Real Kings FC away in Durban and drew this one at home. Everyone can see that their departure has left a big void in the team. What is more interesting though, is that we have good players who are going to close those gaps that were opened when Mtambo and Macuphu left. They are not combining well with the team at the moment, but after a little more game time, they will gel well with the rest of the team,” Sono explained.
The game between Ezenkosi and Cape Town All Stars ended in a one-all draw.
Mtambo made his presence felt in his first game for Chippa United on Wednesday, January 10, as he scored two goals in their 2-0 victory over Amazulu and was chosen as man of the match.
