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Jomo Sono is so accustomed to battling relegation that he almost makes avoiding the chop sound easy.
Sono, whose club, Jomo Cosmos, is hanging precariously above the relegation zone, will next face Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs in the space of three days when the league resumes this week.
Cosmos used to be big spoilsports, and Mjomane’s team can still pull it off. They have already claimed four points off the Soweto giants in the first round, courtesy of a 1-0 win over Pirates in January and a goalless draw against Chiefs in October.
The victory over the Buccaneers’ was Cosmos’ third of the season, while the point they gained against Amakhosi came off the back of three successive league losses for Sono’s side.
“It’s easy to play the big teams because players don’t need further motivation,” said Sono this week.
“Most players often look forward to impressing the big teams because they use us as stepping stones to make moves. So it won’t be different when we play against [Pirates and Chiefs].”
Before they face Pirates in Orlando on Saturday and Chiefs at the FNB Stadium three days later, Sono’s men will host AmaZulu in the Nedbank Cup last 32 at Olën Park in Potchefstroom, North West, on Tuesday.
Sono insists this won’t distract his side from their bid for survival.
“We go out to compete in every game, and it doesn’t matter whether it’s a league or a cup game.”
Sono’s team is in 14th place on the Absa Premiership table, with just a point separating them from the 15th-placed University of Pretoria.
“When talking relegation, people should start looking from Bloemfontein Celtic and Polokwane City down. They are also in danger, and Celtic are still going to play the teams at the top and come to us in Potch,” said Sono.
“The last nine games are going to be like cup finals for us. We just have to fight on. Our target is to get to 30 points, discounting our results against AmaTuks.”
Cosmos will host AmaTuks and bottom-placed Maritzburg United in their final home fixtures.
Apart from their looming clash with Chiefs, Cosmos also stand in the way of title contenders Mamelodi Sundowns and Bidvest Wits in their next four matches.
Sono cited his team’s limitations this season and not having had adequate preparations after their return to the Premiership, which they earned via the controversial promotional play-offs.
“Play-offs kill teams because, by the time the season starts, we don’t have enough rest or time to beef up the squad.
“Our squad is made up of the 95% of players who played in the [National First Division] last season. This is why it’s important to survive and plan better for next season.”
