Jomo Cosmos are set to take on Bidvest Wits in the Nedbank Cup last 16 game at the Tsakane Stadium in Johannesburg on Tuesday.Kick-off is at 7.30pm.
Ezenkosi have won this competition once in 1990. It was known as the Bob Save Super Bowl and Cosmos edged out AmaZulu 1-0 in the final.
Their National First Division (NFD) match against Cape Town All Stars was abandoned after Ezenkosi’s playing kits and registration cards failed to arrive on schedule over the weekend.
Cosmos were beaten 1-0 by Stellenbosch FC in their last league match which was played at the Tsakane Stadium a fortnight ago. This remains Ezenkosi’s last competitive match.
Jomo Sono’s side overcame SAB League side United Rovers 3-0 in the last 32 encounter at home three weeks ago. Wiseman Maluleke (brace) and Matsilele Sono netted for Ezenkosi.
Ezenkosi, who are seeking promotion to the Absa Premiership, are four points behind third-place Stellenbosch on the league table as the race for a top-three finish continues.
Cosmos head coach Sono has made it clear that they are not taking their encounter against Wits seriously as they are prioritising the league over the Cup.
“Well, for us it’s quite simple – our main focus is the league,” Sono told SuperSport.com.
“If we are knocked out of the tournament by Wits, that’s okay. We will go back to the league and continue fighting for points.
“We have seen how Wits have been playing. But whatever happens in the Cup game, the league remains our top priority.”
Meanwhile, Wits have lifted this competition twice. They beat Kaizer Chiefs in the 1978 final when it was known as the Mainstay Cup. They also defeated AmaZulu in the 2010 Nedbank Cup final.
The Clever Boys are coming off a 2-0 victory over Platinum Stars in an Absa Premiership game which was played at the Bidvest Stadium on Saturday evening.
Phakamani Mahlambi fired the Clever Boys into the lead a few minutes after the restart, while Daine Klate sealed the home side’s victory in the dying minutes of the game.
The Clever Boys defeated Cape Town All Stars 2-0 in the last 32 game which was played in the Mother City a fortnight ago. Mogagolodi Ngele grabbed a brace for the visitors.
The Braamfontein side are heading into the Cup encounter, while sitting at the top of the Absa Premiership standings – just two points ahead of second-placed Chiefs.
Wits head coach Gavin Hunt is wary of Cosmos and he also believes that the pitch will be the deciding factor on the day.
“It will be a team of good individual talents in good areas so we’ll check through the coverage and try and do the best we can in preparation,” Hunt told the media.
“In a cup game I think the longer they (Cosmos) keep it at 0-0 the more they’ll have an advantage.
“So it’s important for us to try and do something and keep the tempo of the game as high as possible and from as early as possible,” he added.
“The pitch will be the deciding factor, I think that’s the problem.”
During Cosmos and Wits’ last meeting, the latter won 1-0 at the Olen Park Stadium 12 months ago. Henrico Botes netted for the Clever Boys in a league game.
