Bloemfontein Celtic will aim to break this season’s trend, and notch up a rare away win, when they face Jomo Cosmos in the first round of the Telkom Knockout in Daveyton on Wednesday night.
All six home teams won their last 16 clashes at the weekend.
“We have seen that results have been favourable to the home team in the first round,” said Celtic coach Clinton Larsen.
“We are hoping to prove everyone wrong and get the win that we need to get to the quarterfinal stage.
“We’re coming with some positives from our 1-0 league win over Free State Stars in our last [league] game.”
Celtic said they would not be complacent against a struggling Cosmos outfit, who were still in search of a first Premiership win since being promoted this season.
Larsen believed Cosmos had been unfortunate in the early stages of the league campaign, despite playing well, and stressed that a win against his team could give them the confidence boost they needed.
“I expect a tough match against a team that has played well and I feel that they have been very unlucky not to have more points this season,” he said.
Cosmos coach Jomo Sono gave his relatively inexperienced youngsters credit after facing most of the big Premiership teams in their first eight matches.
“There was one game against Moroka Swallows where we didn’t come on board but I think we’ve adjusted well to the Premiership,” Sono said.
“We have played all the big teams and none of them have beaten us by ridiculous 5-0 margins.”
Cosmos’ seasoned goalkeeper, Avril Phali, said his teammates should relax as they look to turn their season around against Celtic.
Phali was a part of the side’s last cup success, in this competition in 2005.
“We are hoping that playing at home will help us progress, just as it has worked for other teams,” he said.
“Celtic will be tough, we know that for a fact.
“They have talented players like defender Eric Mathoho and Moses Spandeel in midfield — players that I rate highly.
“But our plan is to go out and enjoy ourselves with hopefully a good cup run that will help us turn things around in the league.”
Celtic aim for away win
Bloemfontein Celtic will aim to break this season’s trend, and notch up a rare away win, when they face Jomo Cosmos in the first round of the Telkom Knockout in Daveyton on Wednesday night.
All six home teams won their last 16 clashes at the weekend.
“We have seen that results have been favourable to the home team in the first round,” said Celtic coach Clinton Larsen.
“We are hoping to prove everyone wrong and get the win that we need to get to the quarterfinal stage.
“We’re coming with some positives from our 1-0 league win over Free State Stars in our last [league] game.”
Celtic said they would not be complacent against a struggling Cosmos outfit, who were still in search of a first Premiership win since being promoted this season.
Larsen believed Cosmos had been unfortunate in the early stages of the league campaign, despite playing well, and stressed that a win against his team could give them the confidence boost they needed.
“I expect a tough match against a team that has played well and I feel that they have been very unlucky not to have more points this season,” he said.
Cosmos coach Jomo Sono gave his relatively inexperienced youngsters credit after facing most of the big Premiership teams in their first eight matches.
“There was one game against Moroka Swallows where we didn’t come on board but I think we’ve adjusted well to the Premiership,” Sono said.
“We have played all the big teams and none of them have beaten us by ridiculous 5-0 margins.”
Cosmos’ seasoned goalkeeper, Avril Phali, said his teammates should relax as they look to turn their season around against Celtic.
Phali was a part of the side’s last cup success, in this competition in 2005.
“We are hoping that playing at home will help us progress, just as it has worked for other teams,” he said.
“Celtic will be tough, we know that for a fact.
“They have talented players like defender Eric Mathoho and Moses Spandeel in midfield — players that I rate highly.
“But our plan is to go out and enjoy ourselves with hopefully a good cup run that will help us turn things around in the league.”