Promotion a priority for Jomo Cosmos

Thirteen points – that is what stands between Jomo Cosmos and a sure-fire climb back to the top of the National First Division (NFD) in 2017.

Cosmos will need to haul in Thanda Royal Zulu, which is sitting pretty at the top of the NFD table, currently on 35 points. Cosmos is in the fifth position with 22 points at the halfway point of the season as they aim to move back to the PSL after cruelly being relegated in the 2015/16 season.

Cosmos’s head coach, Jomo Sono is confident that his side can use Olën Park, their home stadium in Potchefstroom, as a fortress par excellence to get maximum points on each occasion.

‘Thanda should be looking behind them. They won’t win here in Potch. We are much stronger here than in our previous match against them. Our aim is a promotion to the PSL,’ he stated in an online interview.

Jomo Cosmos’s first match of the new year is against Mthatha Bush Bucks on 11 February in Mthatha with their first home game against Milano United at Olën Park coming on Wednesday 18 February.

Cosmos players to look out for in 2017:

Tebogo Tlolane

The young winger has dazzled home fans with his trickery and given the left backs nightmares in the NFD this season. Tlolane, who is appropriately nicknamed Messi, is just as diminutive as the international superstar and, with a number of good performances, should attract attention from bigger clubs in the future.

Frederick Nsabiyumva

Captain Fantastic has had a blinder of a season thus far in the centre back position and he will aim to continue being a rock in defence in 2017. Clean sheets are music to this Burundian’s ears. The Cosmos captain is also a great leader on the pitch who inspires with his deeds on it.

Mxolisi Macuphu

Macuphu is in great goal-scoring form of late and his rocket of a shot has been giving him countless goals this season. He still needs to work on his radar, from time to time, but if he is in the mood, he will be a valuable goal-scorer in the NFD in the months to come.

Lefa Hlongwane

The young striker with the golden streak in his hair starred in Cosmos’s recent 3-1 drubbing of Santos before the festive season break. This could be the start of big things for Hlongwane who could form a lethal partnership with Macuphu this year. Any Ezenkosi fan would like that to become a reality.