Cosmos look to add to goal tally against Pirates

Jomo Cosmos, inspired by their 3-0 thrashing of Bloemfontein Celtic in the Telkom Knockout Challenge on Wednesday night, hope to take that goal-scoring form to Port Elizabeth, where they will face floundering Orlando Pirates in an Absa Premiership match this weekend.

The two meet at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Sunday, which will be the first time that a Premier League match is played at this World Cup venue.

Cosmos, despite being at the bottom of the league table, are in high spirits after winning in Daveyton on Wednesday.

"There is no turning back," said Cosmos vice-captain Lehlohonolo Nonyane. "We have been playing well but the problem was failing to score goals. Our coach (Jomo Sono) has been working hard on perfecting our finishing, and it's paying off.

"The celebrations for the victory over Celtic are over. We're now preparing for the big one against Pirates. It will be a tough one, but we will give it our best shot."

Pirates captain Lucky Lekgwathi insisted that Cosmos's league position would not make his team complacent.

"They pulled off a 3-0 victory over Celtic and that showed their [true] potential," said Lekgwathi.

He admitted that his team needed to start scoring goals again.

"We're concerned that the team has been donating points, which is not good for our campaign to challenge for yet another league title," said the skipper.

Pirates will be without Benni McCarthy, who has a hamstring injury, but their speedy winger Tlou Segolela has recovered from a knee injury and could play.

• Matthew Booth hopes to be in the Ajax Cape Town team for tonight's Premier League match against Moroka Swallows. All that stands in his way is a favourable medical.

"I'm ready to play competitive soccer again and I was hoping to sign for Ajax and be available for the game against Swallows," said Booth.

"I would like to thank the Ajax medical team for my remarkable recovery [from injury]. They took me under their wing while I was injured and I'm waiting for them to give me the green light to play."

Ajax have Granwald Scott and Brett Evans on the injury list.

Nazeer Allie started running this week after suffering an ankle injury in a friendly against Santos.

Paul Ruzike suffered groin and ankle injuries during training recently. - Additional reporting by Louis Mazibuko