While results just refuse to go Cosmos’ way for the better part of the current campaign, the mood in the team is one of optimism.

“It cannot go worse than this and it’s only a single victory that will turn things around for the good of the team,” Phali points out.

“What relegation? We are not even thinking about it. This is football and sometimes a team goes through a slump but that does not mean that we will be relegated. I have seen that people all over have written us off and say we will be relegated. It is too early for that; there are still 14 matches to go and winning seven or eight of those matches will definitely do the trick for us,” he says.

“In football nowadays 70 percent is pure luck and the remaining 30 percent is hard work. We need more luck as we have not been performing badly at all; just luck has not been on our side.

Cosmos were preparing to host MTN8 champions, Lamontville Golden Arrows at the Rand stadium on Tuesday evening following a 2-0 loss to Platinum Stars on Saturday.

The game is a Absa Premiership encounter and kick 0ff is at 7.30pm.

Arrows themselves are still smarting after a 3-1 loss to Moroka Swallows in their league game at home last Sunday. “Look at our match against Bloemfontein Celtic, we were 3-1 down, but fought all the way and ended drawing the match 3-3. That was the true reflection of our class and believe me it is only a matter of time before we turn the corner. What I believe in is that in football the way we are losing matches now is the same way we will start winning them.”

Phali still believes there is huge talent at Cosmos and also a good mixture of youth and experience to take Cosmos out of the relegation zone.

“We are fighting hard and we do speak about it when we encourage the youngsters. We tell them that in life one has to suffer first and enjoy later. So that is what is happening to us.

“We have experienced players in all positions namely Tico Tico, Siza Dlamini, Lucky Mhlathe and Chappies (Thapelo Tshilo); so we have a balanced team with huge talent and that is why we have been creating chances. It is just a matter of time before we start collecting points, watch this space.”

“This match will definitely be our turning point, I promise you. I know they will be dangerous after losing against Moroka Swallows at the weekend, but they will meet their match as, like them, we are also wounded,” the club’s captain and goalkeeper said.

Midfielder Bamuza Sono described the mood in the camp as “okay” but remained hopeful that they can save the team from relegation. “The mood is okay in the camp and the guys are all relaxed. Nobody is really under pressure. We acknowledge that the situation we find ourselves in is hardly ideal, but we are working hard to change it.

We have been working on our defence and our striking department as we have been creating a lot of good scoring opportunities but failing to convert them,” Sono said.

He also said they will soon start winning their matches “because we can't lose games all the time”. The players know all very well that every point is going to be like gold from now on.

“We only need one win to turn things around. Anything is possible and we have to win our game against Arrows because we can't lose games all the time,” he Sono

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