Wits must score early against Cosmos, says Hunt

Bidvest Wits coach Gavin Hunt has refused to underestimate Jomo Cosmos. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix

Bidvest Wits coach Gavin Hunt has refused to underestimate Jomo Cosmos. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix

Published Apr 4, 2017

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JOHANNESBURG – Bidvest Wits coach Gavin Hunt says his side must score early to have the best chance of avoiding an upset in Tuesday's Nedbank Cup last 16 tie against Jomo Cosmos at the Tsakane Stadium in Ekurhuleni.

"It will be a team of good individual talents in good areas so we'll check through the coverage and try and do the best we can in preparation. In a cup game I think the longer they keep it at 0-0 the more they'll have an advantage," Hunt said.

"So it's important for us to try and do something and keep the tempo of the game as high as possible and from as early as possible. The pitch will be the deciding factor, I think that's the problem."

In Cosmos and Wits' last encounter, Wits won 1-0 at the Olen Park Stadium in early 2016 The Clever Boys also have some pedigree in this competition, winning it twice. They beat Kaizer Chiefs in the 1978 final, when it was known as the Mainstay Cup, and also defeated AmaZulu in the 2010 Nedbank Cup final.

Wits are coming off a 2-0 victory over Platinum Stars in the league at Wits Stadium on Saturday. They defeated Cape Town All Stars 2-0 in the Last-32 game, which was played in Cape Town in March. Wits currently top the Premiership table, two points ahead of Chiefs in second place.

Jomo Cosmos have won SA's premier cup competition once, in 1990 when it was known as the Bob Save Super Bowl and they edged out AmaZulu 1-0 in the final.

However, head coach and owner Jomo Sono has made it clear that they are not taking their encounter against Wits seriously, as they are prioritising the league.

"Well, for us it's quite simple – our main focus is the league. If we are knocked out of the tournament by Wits, that's okay. We will go back to the league and continue fighting for points," Sono said.

Their National First Division (NFD) match against Cape Town All Stars was abandoned after Cosmos' playing kits and registration cards failed to arrive on schedule over the weekend. Cosmos were beaten 1-0 by Stellenbosch FC in their last league game at the Tsakane Stadium a fortnight ago.

Jomo Sono's side overcame SAB League side United Rovers 3-0 in the last-32 encounter at home three weeks ago. Cosmos, who are seeking promotion to the ABSA Premiership, are four points behind third-place Stellenbosch on the league table, as the race for a top-three finish continues.

African News Agency

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