Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Jomo Cosmos are bound to spit fire when they take on Free State Stars in a Telkom Knockout quarterfinal at Goble Park in Bohlokong tomorrow.

This was after Ea Lla Koto beat a depleted Ezenkosi 2-0 in an Absa Premiership match at the same venue last weekend.

Cosmos were without five key players for that match, in which Thulasizwe Mbuyane and Diyo Sibisi scored the two goals.

Morgan Gould, Valery Nahayo and Bamuza Sono were all suspended, while Innocent Ntsume and Reneilwe Letsholonyane were injured.

Bar Sono, all the other players will travel with the team to Botshabelo in what is expected to be a grudge match.

Stars welcome back the Zambian duo of midfielder Chintu Kampamba and goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene from national duty.

They featured in the Cosafa Cup final in Bloemfontein on Wednesday night where they lost 4-3 to Bafana Bafana on penalties.

"We are bracing ourselves for a tough game, Stars have a pretty good team," said Andrew "Jaws of Life" Rabutla, Cosmos' manager.

"An added advantage for Ea Lla Koto is that they are playing in front of their supporters, we will give it our best shot."

Duncan "The King" Lechesa, Stars' captain, said: "Our preparations for Saturday's game went according to plan and we are ready for Cosmos.

"We expect them to put a big fight this time round after losing the league game last weekend. It will also be great for us to do well in the tournament."

Louis "Sprinter" Tshakoane, Stars' communications manager, said: "Free State is already buzzing, everybody is talking about the game."