Jomo Cosmos F.C.

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Jomo Cosmos
Jomo Cosmos logo.png
Full nameJomo Cosmos Football Club
Nickname(s)Ezenkosi (Royals)
Founded29 January 1983; 39 years ago (1983-01-29)
GroundProfert Olën Park
Capacity22,000
ChairmanJomo Sono
CoachJomo Sono
LeagueNational First Division
2018–1913th

Jomo Cosmos are a South African professional association football club based in Johannesburg that plays in the National First Division. The club is owned and coached by South African football legend Jomo Sono.

History[]

The club was founded on 29 January 1983, upon the remnants of the previously well-known and successful club Highlands Park, which Sono opted to buy when he ended his playing career in the United States. The club was named Dion Cosmos in its initial 1983 season, with the first part of the name representing the previous sponsor of Highlands Park and the second part being the fingerprint of Jomo Sono, who decided to name his newly bought club after his former NASL club, the New York Cosmos. Since 1984, the name of the club has been Jomo Cosmos.[1]

Sono's policy for development has always been to recognise and build upon raw talent. Sono's team accentuated and developed a strong youth policy and through the years has gained a reputation for discovering and developing some of the finest talent to have played in the league, for the South Africa national team and abroad. Under Sono's ownership, the club went on to achieve several successes: winning the South African Premier Division title in 1987,[2] the Bob Save Super Bowl in 1990,[3][4] the Coca-Cola Cup in 2002 and 2005,[5] and the SAA Supa 8 in 2003.[6]

In 2008, Jomo Cosmos were relegated from top-flight football for the first time since 1993.[7] After one season in the National First Division, they returned to the PSL for the 2009–10 season, having won the Inland Stream and the promotion play-off against Carara Kicks.[8] They were immediately relegated again, leading several to question Sono's future as the club's manager.[9] Sono stayed, and led the club to the 2010–11 National First Division title and promotion.[10] They were yet again relegated in their first season back, finishing in last place.[11] They would stay in the second tier for three seasons, before winning promotion through the 2014-15 PSL play-off tournament.[12] Cosmos were relegated again in their first season back, after losing 3–1 to Maritzburg United on the final day, ending the season in last place.[13]

Honours[]

  • Telkom Knockout: 3
2002, 2003, 2005
  • Nedbank Cup: 1
1990
  • NSL: 1
1987
  • Second Division: 1
1994

Club records[]

  • Most starts: South Africa Andrew Rabutla 229
  • Most goals: Mozambique Manuel Bucuane 88
  • Most capped player: Mozambique Manuel Bucuane
  • Most starts in a season: Webster Lichaba (1986), South Africa Helman Mkhalele (1993) both 46
  • Most goals in a season: South Africa Philemon Masinga 27 (1991)
  • Record victory: 6–0 vs (31 August 1985), (Mainstay Cup); vs (30 August 1986), (Mainstay Cup);
    vs Umtata Bush Bucks (28 March 1992), (NSL); vs (21 February 1993), (African Cup Winners Cup)
  • Record defeat: 0–5 vs Kaizer Chiefs (24 December 2001), (Coca-Cola Cup)

Historical League results[]

Club officials/Technical team[]

First team squad[]

2019-20 season[14]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK South Africa RSA Buti Khoza
4 MF South Africa RSA Bonginkosi Gumede
5 DF Ivory Coast CIV Ange Lebahi (captain)
6 MF South Africa RSA
7 MF South Africa RSA
8 FW Nigeria NGA
11 MF South Africa RSA
13 MF South Africa RSA
14 FW Nigeria NGA
15 MF South Africa RSA
16 DF South Africa RSA
17 MF South Africa RSA
19 FW Benin BEN
20 MF South Africa RSA
22 MF South Africa RSA
23 MF South Africa RSA
24 DF South Africa RSA
No. Pos. Nation Player
25 DF Nigeria NGA
26 DF South Africa RSA
27 MF South Africa RSA Phakamani Mngadi
30 FW Nigeria NGA Chibuike Ohizu
31 MF South Africa RSA
33 DF South Africa RSA
34 MF South Africa RSA
35 GK South Africa RSA
36 GK South Africa RSA
37 MF South Africa RSA Gerald Ndlovu
38 MF South Africa RSA
40 MF South Africa RSA
42 DF South Africa RSA
43 MF South Africa RSA
45 MF South Africa RSA
49 MF South Africa RSA

Shirt sponsor and kit manufacturer[]

  • Shirt sponsor: N/A
  • Kit manufacturer: N/A

References[]

  1. ^ "South Africa 1983 NPSL". RSSF. Retrieved 5 December 2010.
  2. ^ "South Africa 1987". RSSSF. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  3. ^ "South Africa 1990". RSSSF. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  4. ^ "Mzansi's greatest teams". Kickoff. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  5. ^ ""I remember that day like it was yesterday," – Jomo Sono's Nostalgia". 19 May 2020.
  6. ^ "South Africa 2003/04". RSSSF. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  7. ^ "Cosmos condemned to relegation". News24. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Jomo Cosmos Back in the Premier Soccer League". Goal. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  9. ^ "The game's over, Jomo". Mail & Guardian. 12 March 2010. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  10. ^ "Bay United beaten in penalty shootout". PressReader. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  11. ^ "Jomo Cosmos relegated". News24. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  12. ^ "Jomo Cosmos promoted to the PSL". News24. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  13. ^ "Absa Premiership wrap: Maritzburg survive, Cosmos relegated, AmaTuks for play-offs". Goal. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  14. ^ "Team Info 2019-2020". Jomo Cosmos. Retrieved 17 August 2020.

External links[]

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