Jomo Cosmos head coach, Jomo Sono, insists that, unlike others, he is not in football for ‘tenders’, fame or money. Cosmos have spent over three decades playing between the two professional divisions of South African Football. In 1997, they won their first major title, the league championship of South Africa’s top-flight.
Six years later, they made their mark on the African continent. In 1993, Cosmos reached the semifinals of what is now the CAF Confederation Cup. They achieved this milestone under the mentorship of club owner and coach Jomo Sono.
Nevertheless, fortunes have turned for ‘Ezenkosi’, as the team is popularly known. In recent years, the iconic club has virtually disappeared from the forefront of South African football.
Cosmos was relegated from the second division to the Gauteng ABC Motsepe League, South Africa’s third-tier amateur league.
JOMO SONO: ‘IT’S A CALLING’
They have since spent over four years in the third tier. Last season, they narrowly survived further relegation to the SAFA Regional league. Speaking to FARPost, he maintained that, unlike some of his counterparts, pure passion and unwavering commitment to developing Mzansi’s future stars remain his biggest motivation.
“It’s okay, you know, a little bit frustrating here and there, but some of us got involved in a calling. Some get involved in football because of tenders, because they want to be famous, to have money,” said Sono.
“We were born here, and we will die here. So, I am still going strong, and we are still doing exactly the same thing we have been doing in developing players.”
Cosmos has not only operated as a professional club but is also affectionately regarded as one of the country’s most prolific talent factories. From AFCON-winning greats like Philemon Masinga, Mark Fish and Helman Mkhelele to the likes of Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Linda Mntambo, Cosmos’ reputation as a breeding ground for talent remains unmatched.
Sono insisted that the club, which developed Sekhukhune United’s Vuyo Letlapa, still serves the same purpose. He referenced the achievement of boasting several products plying their trade in PSL clubs.
“I mean, if you look at Sekhukhune, they have got seven Jomo Cosmos players in their starting lineup. If you look at Gomora, they got promoted with six of the Jomo Cosmos players,” added Sono.
Cosmos products such as Thabang Monare, Daniel Cardoso and Mntambo have become key figures at Babina Noko. ‘The Black Prince’ added: “So, it’s the love we have, it’s the calling we have for developing young players and turning them into superstars. So, we are there, and we love it, we are passionate about it.”
The Orlando Pirates legend ended with a heartfelt message that truly reflected his beliefs and his deeper passion for the game. “We might not be in the PSL because of the TV and the glamour, but as long as we are in football, we are happy,” he concluded.
RELATED STORY: Jomo Cosmos off to flying start with win over Pirates’ feeder side