/ 25 November 2009

Cosmos beef up attack

Jomo Cosmos coach Jomo Sono, is set to sign Swaziland international striker Mfamafuthi Bhembe to beef up his attack.

Speaking after his side lost 1-0 to Golden Arrows in an Absa Premiership clash played at the Rand Stadium on Tuesday night, the Black Prince said all the paper work had been completed and he was waiting for the green light from the South African Football Association to field Bhembe.

Said Sono: ”I am hoping he will be registered for our next match against Black Aces on Saturday [at the Puma Rugby Stadium] as all the documents are completed.”

Sono also said he would be making a number of signings this week to strengthen his side.

On Bhembe, who will join countryman and fellow striker Siza Dlamini at Cosmos, Sono said: ”He will make a difference to our attack.

”He is quicker than Dlamini and could be the answer to our goal scoring problems.”

But Sono stressed he was not pushing any panic buttons and stated that Ezenkosi will avoid being relegated.

Cosmos slumped to their 10th defeat in 17 league outings against Arrows and suffered a double blow when Mali-born striker Sekou Camara was stretchered off in the first half with a dislocated shoulder. He will be out for six weeks.

But Sono was relaxed about his side’s performance: ”We are creating plenty of chances like we did tonight [against Arrows] and once they start hitting the back of the net; we are going to get some big wins.

”At this stage I am not worried as we are playing well and getting better. The fact we are creating chances means we are improving.”

Dlamini, when he came on after halftime and Mali midfielder Diarra Gasoussou, were two players who missed chances while the only goal of the night was scored in the 32nd minute by Thanduyise Khuboni.

The Cosmos coach said he was forced to play a depleted side against Arrows due to injuries. ”Playing midweek and on the weekend does not give players who get a knock, time to recover.

”But that is not an excuse or complaint as it is the same for all teams. I have enough depth in my squad and there is light at the end of the tunnel.”

What has given Sono hope and confidence that his players can fight their way off the foot of the table is the fact they are creating scoring chances and that Cosmos have been in this situation before.

”For the past 10 seasons or so we have been fighting relegation and we mostly escaped. We have that sort of experience and know how of getting out of this type of situation.”

Cosmos will have their injured players, such as Bamuza Sono, Gladwin Shitolo, Bongani Theletsane, Larry Cohen and Ousmane Bethe, back for the vital game against Aces which is going to be a dogfight with both promoted sides struggling in the elite league this season.

Aces have already sacked coach Sammy Troughton due to their poor results so far.

Cosmos defeated Aces 2-1 at the Rand Stadium which is Ezenkosi’s only win this season and Sono is hoping for a repeat on Saturday. — Sapa