Sono promises a lot of 'hard tackling'

Jomo Cosmos, with Charlton Mashumba and Brice Aka back in their starting line-up, will not lose to Maritzburg United in Potchefstroom, proclaimed team owner and coach Jomo Sono of the looming relegation scrap between the teams.

Cosmos could have ensured their safety in the Absa Premiership with a draw in KwaMashu on Wednesday night but suffered a 1-0 defeat to remain third from the bottom on 25 points.

Maritzburg beat Ajax Cape Town 1-0 at Harry Gwala Stadium to go one point behind Cosmos.

The two sides meet in a dramatically placed final fixture on May 21.

Bottom-placed Pretoria University (22 points) face Arrows at Tuks Stadium.

"If we play this way, at home, with Mashumba back, we will beat Maritzburg. Definitely. Both Mashumba and Aka have to come back. [And] Both will start. It's important psychologically. Both suit the system we play, of giving Mashumba a free role and Brice the one fighting with people up front," Sono declared."

Sono dismissed suggestions United's confidence will be up from beating Ajax.

"There won't be any confidence for Maritzburg in Potchefstroom. The pitch is small. We get closer to tackles, and quickly as well. We don't know if they will take the tackles. We just hope there is no +ing on the bench, because definitely we will tackle."

Sono's reference to fighting on the bench was a dig at a touchline altercation between Maritzburg coach Ernst Middendorp and Arrows' assistant Mandla Ncikazi in a 1-1 draw in Pietermaritzburg on April 20.

Cosmos need only a draw to ensure their continued participation in the Premiership.

"We have an advantage. They [Maritzburg] have to get a win we can get a draw, and that's it," he said.

Sono, who proclaimed many times this season Cosmos would not fight relegation, admitted he could have done with greater bolstering after being promoted back to the elite league.