Cosmos hopes to avenge humiliating defeat by Pirates

Jomo Cosmos will be looking to avenge the embarrassing 5 – 0 slapping by a rejuvenated Orlando Pirates in their last Absa Premiership encounter when the two teams collide in the Nedbank Cup last 16 at the Olen Park Stadium in Potchefstroom on Sunday at 3pm.

The two teams will be meeting for the third time this season, with Ezenkosi (The Royalty Boys), as Cosmos are fondly known to their avid followers, winning the first leg of the Absa Premiership 1 – 0 while Pirates turned the tables in the second leg at the iconic Orlando Stadium in Orlando East, Soweto.

Notwithstanding the 5 – 0 second leg scoreline, the two teams seem to be on level wins for now but as the #OneTeamMustFall goes, it will be interesting to see which team makes it two wins from the one-apiece in the Absa Premiership.

If Pirates can take off from where they left when the two teams last met on 12 March with their famous 5 – 0 drubbing of Ezenkosi, the Buccaneers are likely to make it to the quarter-finals of the premiership’s most lucrative cup competition.

The heavy payout for the cup winner is R7 million with the runners-up taking home R2,5 million. The two semifinalists will each pocket R1 million, with the quarter-finalists each taking away R400 000 for their efforts. There are other amounts over and above those just mentioned which teams get for the mere participation in the competition.

Cosmos, on the other hand, cannot be written off. They surprised fellow Sowetan counterparts, Kaizer Chiefs with a 1 – 0 victory straight from the 5 – 0 drubbing by The Ghosts. The first leg of the Chiefs-Cosmos encounter of the premiership at Olen Park Stadium in October last year ended in a goalless draw.

Cosmos seem to be well awake whenever they meet the so-called Big Two of Soweto and anything can happen on Sunday in their Nedbank Cup clash with the Sea Robbers (Pirates). This match has all the ingredients of a thriller.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference at the Premier Soccer League offices in Parktown, Ezenkosi coach Jomo Sono, said all his players that were part to the 5 – 0 drubbing have raised their hands to say they would like to be part of the team again in order to go and avenge their defeat.

“The drubbing is still sore on my players and they are eager to avenge it. All I can say is that Pirates can expect a different ball game, especially, that we shall be at home. Orlando Stadium is too big and intimidating for my boys, who are so much used to Olen Park which is compact and they can knock the ball around easily. If they thought the drubbing was enough to make us [cower], then they are in for a surprise come Sunday,” Sono said.

Buccaneer mentor Eric Tinkler said his team desperately wants to win the Nedbank Cup as it is the only route left for them to make a third consecutive appearance in continental games three years in a row.

“We love playing continental football and my boys are eager to return as soon as possible, and the Nedbank Cup is our only salvation,” he said.