The links between Orlando Pirates and Jomo Cosmos which almost amount to a father and son relationship stretch back to the days when Jomo Sono use to play for Pirates. The “Black Prince” left the Buccaneers to go and play for a team known as New York Cosmos in the United States.
On his return to South Africa he formed Jomo Cosmos in 1983.
Sono is still hailed as the prince of South African soccer but these days the regal touch is displayed off the field rather than on it. The dribbling wizard with the eye for a defence-splitting pass has become a coaching wizard with an eye for unearthing new talent.
He took Jomo Cosmos to the first division title in the then National Soccer League in 1987 and in 1990 won the Bob Save Super Bowl. Since then, however, it’s been a long, dry spell with no further triumphs in league or cup competitions.
They entered the African Cup Winners’ Cup in 1993 as a result of being runners-up to Kaizer Chiefs in the 1992 Bob Save as league winners, Chiefs went into the African Champions League draw and reached the semifinals of that competition.
But their African excursion took their concentration off the league, and Cosmos were relegated. Pirates could not allow a number of good players to play in the lower divisions, therefore Bucs mounted a raid on Sono’s playing staff. Pirates bought the likes of Mark Fish and Helman Mkhalele, who helped them win the African Champions League in 1995 and the African Super Cup.
Cosmos bounced back to the top flight and last season were among the contenders for the Premier Soccer League (PSL) crown but fell away to end fourth behind Pirates.
Cosmos are currently fourth in the PSL table. Sono says: “Our main aim this season is to win the league and we have a good chance.”
They have also reached the quarterfinals of the Coca-Cola Cup after a 1-0 victory over Bush Bucks.
Comos face Supersport United this weekend in a bid to advance to the semifinals of the lucrative cup competition and will be hoping to put on a good show to impress their new technical clothing sponsor, Arrow.
Cosmos do not have a great record in the Coke Cup, their best results being quarterfinal losses to Amazulu in 1992 and Sundowns in 1996. Supersport have gone one better, reaching the semifinals in 1996, where they lost to eventual winners Bush Bucks.
In this weekend’s other quarter- final Kaizer Chiefs will take on Manning Rangers, and on Wednesday Free State Stars take on Sundowns.
Ajax Cape Town are still waiting to find out who their opponents will be in the fourth quarterfinal. The PSL’s disciplinary committee found Lamontville Golden Arrows guilty of failing to fulfil their first round match against Santos. Arrows were fined R100000, R30000 of which was suspended for six months. The disciplinary committee ordered the match to be replayed. Santos were fined R10000 for failing to comply with an order of the cup committee relating to admission prices.