Thohoyandou - Following their 2-0 defeat to Black Leopards on Sunday, Jomo Cosmos coach Jomo Sono said his charges lost the game due to their failure to convert chances in the first half.
Cosmos went down to Leopards in their first match of the PSL and NFD relegation/promotion playoffs at the Thohoyandou Stadium courtesy of Siphelele Ntshangase and Ivan Mahangwahaya strikes.
The 59-year-old mentor believes Leopards supporters’ played a significant role in his team’s downfall on the day, citing that Lidoda Duvha were more motivated by their 12th man which Cosmos failed to deal with.
“I think we played very well on the day,” Sono told Sport24 in an exclusive interview.
“If only we managed to take our chances earlier in the game, maybe things could have ended differently.
“We were in control of the game up until we conceded the first goal.
“They got a lucky goal and getting a goal with a crowd like this it helped them become a superman.
“Congratulations to Leopards, they took their two chances and that’s why they won.”
Despite their loss which sent them to the bottom of the mini-league, the former Bafana Bafana mentor believes Ezinkosi still have what it takes to advance to the PSL next season.
Sono said people must not write his team off yet, as they are determined to make things difficult for Leopards in their return fixture at home.
“All I can say now is that don’t rule Cosmos out yet.
“Don’t rule us out of this tournament now based on our defeat.
“They (Leopards) still have to come to Vereeniging and I can assure you now that they won’t win there.
“They won’t beat us in Vereeniging, definitely they won’t win there.”
Cosmos will be looking to get their playoffs campaign up and running when they face Moroka Swallows in their next game at the Vaal University of Technology on Sunday.