Jomo Cosmos F.C.

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

Jomo Cosmos

Full name	Jomo Cosmos Football Club
Nickname(s)	Ezenkosi (Royals)
Founded	29 January 1983; 42 years ago (1983-01-29)
Ground	Profert Olën Park
Capacity	22,000
Chairman	Jomo Sono
Coach	Jomo Sono
League	ABC Motsepe League
2023–24	4th
Home colours Away colours

At the end of the 2021–22 National First Division season, the club was relegated to the third tier of football in South Africa for the first time.

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

• Top 8: 1

2003

• Nedbank Cup: 1

1990

• NSL: 1

1987

• Second Division: 1

1994

Club records

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

League record

National Professional Soccer League

• 1983  – 9th
• 1984  – 9th

National Soccer League

• 1985 – 4th
• 1986 – 12th
• 1987 – 1st
• 1988 – 2nd
• 1989 – 4th
• 1990 – 5th
• 1991 – 7th
• 1992 – 5th
• 1993 – 18th (relegated)

NSL Second Division

• 1994 – 2nd (promoted)

National Soccer League

• 1995 – 10th

South African Premiership

• 1996–97 – 7th
• 1997–98 – 7th
• 1998–99 – 10th
• 1999–00 – 7th
• 2000–01 – 4th
• 2001–02 – 4th
• 2002–03 – 8th
• 2003–04 – 13th
• 2004–05 – 13th
• 2005–06 – 9th
• 2006–07 – 7th
• 2007–08 – 16th (relegated)

National First Division

• 2008–09 – 1st (promoted)

South African Premiership

• 2009–10 – 16th (relegated)

National First Division

• 2010–11 – 1st (promoted)

South African Premiership

• 2011–12 – 16th (relegated)

National First Division

• 2012–13 – 14th
• 2013–14 – 6th
• 2014–15 – 2nd (promoted)

South African Premiership

• 2015–16 – 16th (relegated)

National First Division

• 2016–17 – 10th
• 2017-18 – 3rd
• 2018-19 – 13th
• 2019-20 - 13th
• 2020-21 - 9th
• 2021-21 - 15th (relegated)

SAFA Second Division (Gauteng stream)

• 2022–23 – 3rd
• 2023–24 – 4th

Club officials/Technical team

• Owner/Chairman: Jomo Sono
• Football manager: Bamuza Sono
• Coach: Jomo Sono
• Assistant coaches: Siza Dlamini & Gerald Mtshali
• Goalkeeping coaches: Mpangi Merikani & Avril Phali

References

1. "South Africa 1983 NPSL". RSSF. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2010.
2. "South Africa 1987". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
3. "South Africa 1990". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
4. "Mzansi's greatest teams". Kickoff. 16 September 2013. Archived from the original on 22 July 2020. 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. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
7. "Cosmos condemned to relegation". News24. Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. 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. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
10. "Bay United beaten in penalty shootout". PressReader. Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
11. "Jomo Cosmos relegated". News24. Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
12. "Jomo Cosmos promoted to the PSL". News24. Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
13. "Absa Premiership wrap: Maritzburg survive, Cosmos relegated, AmaTuks for play-offs". Goal. Archived from the original on 29 July 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2020.

External links

• Official website
• Premier Soccer League