ANDREW MUCHINERIPI, Vosloorus | Thursday 7.00am
WHEN unfashionable Jomo Cosmos are on song and playing at homely Vosloorus Stadium they are a match for any Premier Soccer League team as Sundowns discovered on Wednesday afternoon.
The Ezenkosi triumphed 2-0 before an encouragingly large home crowd on a hot afternoon deep in the East Rand and lie fifth on the standings with 49 points after 33 matches.
Coach-cum-owner Jomo Sono modestly stated later that his ambition was to finish among the top eight and qualify for the revived multimillion-rand competition to be contested by the leading eight clubs on the standings.
Sono and his talented crew are on a roll, following up a deserved draw at Bloemfontein Celtic on Sunday with a worthy win through goals from Nkosinathi Nhleko and Benjamin Mwaruwari.
Nhleko headed home a Sibusiso Mhlongo cross after 34 minutes and Zimbabwean Mwaruwari rounded Muisi Ajao before chipping goalkeeper John Tlale 69 minutes into the match.
Sundowns seldom resembled champions-elect – they need three wins from six games to clinch a record third consecutive title – and their best effort came from the boot of Charles Motlohi with time ticking away.
A notable absentee from the Cosmos line-up was Hilton Jordaan. Sono said the central defender was upset at being omitted from the Bafana Bafana squad to play Mauritius in the Castle Cup at Phokeng on Saturday.
Jordaan was called up for both legs of the World Cup tie against Lesotho without playing which does raise he question: how can you be axed if you not given a chance. Still, the good showing by Cosmos will have cheered him up.