Sono confident Jomo Cosmos will bounce back to the PSL

Jomo Cosmos may be in eighth place in the National First Division‚ but their chances of at least reaching the promotion playoffs are not as bad as their position would seem to indicate.

And club boss Jomo Sono believes a last-16 penalties Nedbank Cup win against PSL title-chasing Bidvest Wits on Tuesday was just the tonic Cosmos needed to make a charge for yet another promotion back to the Absa Premiership.

“We did well. We’ve assembled a good team‚" Sono said. "From now on it’s just to focus on the Nedbank Cup‚ and then the last 10 games in the league.

“We have had a lot of injuries and suspensions. Now everyone is back and now we can compete.

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“If you look at the points‚ we have got 30 from 21 games‚ and number two has got 33 [third-placed Stellenbosch FC in fact have 34 points from 22 games].

“So anything is possible. You win the next game you got to 33. And this team will definitely compete.

“If we go to second position‚ we will fight with Thanda. We’re not throwing in the towel against Thanda. And then we will also fight to go into the playoffs.”

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Cosmos trail the NFD’s runaway leaders Thanda Royal Zulu by a huge 17 points‚ though with a game in hand and‚ despite Sono’s characteristic bravado‚ their chances of winning the league for outright promotion are exceptionally slim.

Thanda have lost one game all season‚ and a collapse at this stage from the Richards Bay-based team seems highly unlikely.

From second to third place‚ though‚ the race for the playoffs is wide open.

Black Leopards are on 39 points from 22 games‚ Stellenbosch 34 and Pietermaritzburg-based Royal Eagles on 33‚ just three points ahead of Cosmos‚ who have played one less game.

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Sono does not believe that a progression to the Nedbank quarterfinals will distract his young‚ rebuilt team‚ but instead give them confidence.

“It’s a morale booster. The players are looking forward to it‚” Cosmos’s owner and coach said.

Since being relegated from the PSL in 2007-08‚ Cosmos have been promoted back three times‚ dropping straight back down after one season‚ most recently competing in the PSL again last season.

- TMG Digital/TMG Sport