Cosmos, United seek confidence booster in cup

BOTTOM of the PSL table sides Maritzburg United and Jomo Cosmos will battle it out for the spot in the last eight of the Telkom Knockout when they meet at the Harry Gwala Stadium tonight.

Maritzburg and Cosmos currently find themselves occupying 16th and 15th spots respectively on the Absa Premier Soccer League standings following poor starts to the season with neither team registering a victory.

In their bid to turn things around, the Team of Choice have brought in the experienced Clive Barker to coach the team after sacking Mandla Ncikazi, who took over the club from Steve Komphela at the beginning of the season.

Maritzburg midfielder Kurt Lentjies hopes the appointment of Barker will bring a change of fortune.

“There is no introduction needed. He’s (Barker) achieved some amazing things in football, so let’s hope he can achieve things here with this bunch of guys as well. We want to make him feel settled in as soon as possible. Personally, I am looking forward to working with him,” Lentjies told the club’s website.

“It’s two top coaches against each other (Barker and Jomo Sono), but it is going to be settled amongst the 11 players on the field, their 11 against our 11,” he added.

With the sides having met in the opening league fixture, Lentjies is adamant that this will be a whole new game for both sides.

“We have played Cosmos already at home, 0-0 draw. This is a cup game so each team will be looking for a victory and to boost their confidence for the league.“

For the past four years the Telkom Knockout competition has been won by a different sides, SuperSport United (2014), Platinum Stars (2013), Celtic (2012) and Orlando Pirates (2011).

Kaizer Chiefs were able to defend the trophy in 2010, after winning it in 2009. But since then no team has been able to defend the trophy. It remains to be seen whether last season’s champions SuperSport will be able to defend their title, after securing a quarter-final spot when they knocked out Polokwane City by 2-1 at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday.