Matome Lebea

Matome Lebea

Jomo Cosmos will pop the champagne bottles at training today afternoon despite their 1-0 defeat by Dynamos at George Thabe Stadium at the weekend because they have now qualified for the play-offs.

These were the words of Jomo "Troublemaker" Sono, Cosmos' owner-coach.

"We qualified for the play-offs earlier than expected because we had a two-year plan to return to the elite league, but surprisingly the chance came for us to make a quick return. We now need only a point to qualify for the Platinum play-offs and I do not see any good reason of not getting it against Witbank Spurs in our last match," Sono said yesterday.

Victories by the last three teams in the National First Division (NFD) Inland Stream log have made life difficult for the top teams and further push the championship to a photo finish, especially for the second team to qualify for the play-offs between Mpumalanga Black Aces and Pretoria University.

This after AmaTuks were beaten 2-1 by Black Leopards on Saturday at Tshifulanani Stadium, while Black Aces walloped Witbank Spurs 3-0 to move to the second spot on the log, two points behind Cosmos.

At Seshego Stadium FC AK resurrected their chances of playing in the NFD next season when they walloped Winnerspark 5-1 to move out of the bottom of the log through goal difference.

N'da Jacques scored a brace while other goals were from Zweli Silawule, Chris Manoka and Chikondi Likwemba while Winnerspark's consolation goal was scored by Tshepo Malesa.

In the Coastal Stream the writing is on the wall that Carara Kicks will contest the National First Division (NFD) play-offs following their 2-0 victory over Nathi Lions on Saturday.

Results:

Inland Stream

FC AK 5, Winnerspark 1; Dynamos 1, Cosmos 0; Aces 3, Spurs 1; Leopards 2, AmaTuks 1.

Coastal Stream

Kicks 2, Nathi Lions 0; African Warriors 2, Durban Stars 0; Ikapa Sporting 1, FC Cape Town 1; Hanover Park 1, Vasco da Gama 1.