Jomo Cosmos F.C.

The club was founded on 29 January 1983, upon the remnants of the previously well-known and successful club Highlands Park, which Sono opted to buy when he ended his playing career in the United States. The club was named Dion Cosmos in its initial 1983 season, with the first part of the name representing the previous sponsor of Highlands Park and the second part being the fingerprint of Jomo Sono, who decided to name his newly bought club after his former NASL club, the New York Cosmos. Since 1984, the name of the club has been Jomo Cosmos.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zaf83.html|title=South Africa 1983 NPSL|access-date=5 December 2010|publisher=RSSF|archive-date=22 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922070029/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zaf83.html|url-status=live}}

Sono's policy for development has always been to recognise and build upon raw talent. Sono's team accentuated and developed a strong youth policy and through the years has gained a reputation for discovering and developing some of the finest talent to have played in the league, for the South Africa national team and abroad. Under Sono's ownership, the club went on to achieve several successes: winning the South African Premier Division title in 1987,{{cite web |title=South Africa 1987 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zaf87.html |website=RSSSF |access-date=17 August 2020 |archive-date=21 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721124317/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zaf87.html |url-status=live }} the Bob Save Super Bowl in 1990,{{cite web |title=South Africa 1990 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zaf90.html |website=RSSSF |access-date=17 August 2020 |archive-date=21 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721124323/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zaf90.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Mzansi's greatest teams |url=https://www.kickoff.com/news/articles/south-africa-news/categories/news/kaizer-chiefs/the-best-teams-ever-in-south-africa/545953 |website=Kickoff |date=16 September 2013 |access-date=17 August 2020 |archive-date=22 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722075848/https://www.kickoff.com/news/articles/south-africa-news/categories/news/kaizer-chiefs/the-best-teams-ever-in-south-africa/545953 |url-status=live }} the Coca-Cola Cup in 2002 and 2005,{{cite web |title="I remember that day like it was yesterday," – Jomo Sono's Nostalgia |date=19 May 2020|url=https://www.galaxyun.tv/i-remember-that-day-like-it-was-yesterday-jomo-sonos-nostalgia/}} and the SAA Supa 8 in 2003.{{cite web |title=South Africa 2003/04 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zaf04.html |website=RSSSF |access-date=17 August 2020 |archive-date=21 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721124311/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zaf04.html |url-status=live }}

In 2008, Jomo Cosmos were relegated from top-flight football for the first time since 1993.{{cite web |title=Cosmos condemned to relegation |url=https://www.news24.com/Sport/Cosmos-condemned-to-relegation-20080909 |website=News24 |access-date=17 August 2020 |archive-date=21 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240621161159/https://www.news24.com/Sport/Cosmos-condemned-to-relegation-20080909 |url-status=live }} After one season in the National First Division, they returned to the PSL for the 2009–10 season, having won the Inland Stream and the promotion play-off against Carara Kicks.{{cite web |title=Jomo Cosmos Back in the Premier Soccer League |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/89/africa/2009/05/11/1257959/jomo-cosmos-back-in-the-premier-soccer-league |website=Goal |access-date=17 August 2020}} They were immediately relegated again, leading several to question Sono's future as the club's manager.{{cite web |title=The game's over, Jomo |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2010-03-12-the-games-over-jomo/ |website=Mail & Guardian |date=12 March 2010 |access-date=17 August 2020 |archive-date=28 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128080022/https://mg.co.za/article/2010-03-12-the-games-over-jomo/ |url-status=live }} Sono stayed, and led the club to the 2010–11 National First Division title and promotion.{{cite web |title=Bay United beaten in penalty shootout |url=https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/daily-dispatch/20110523/282067683524891 |website=PressReader |access-date=17 August 2020 |archive-date=21 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240621161122/https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/daily-dispatch/20110523/282067683524891 |url-status=live }} They were yet again relegated in their first season back, finishing in last place.{{cite web |title=Jomo Cosmos relegated |url=https://www.news24.com/Sport/jomo-cosmos-relegated-20120516 |website=News24 |access-date=17 August 2020 |archive-date=21 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240621161246/https://www.news24.com/Sport/jomo-cosmos-relegated-20120516 |url-status=live }} They would stay in the second tier for three seasons, before winning promotion through the 2014-15 PSL play-off tournament.{{cite web |title=Jomo Cosmos promoted to the PSL |url=https://www.news24.com/Sport/Jomo-Cosmos-promoted-to-the-PSL-20150603 |website=News24 |access-date=17 August 2020 |archive-date=21 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240621161244/https://www.news24.com/Sport/Jomo-Cosmos-promoted-to-the-PSL-20150603 |url-status=live }} Cosmos were relegated again in their first season back, after losing 3–1 to Maritzburg United on the final day, ending the season in last place.{{cite web |title=Absa Premiership wrap: Maritzburg survive, Cosmos relegated, AmaTuks for play-offs |url=https://www.goal.com/en-za/news/4667/sa-psl/2016/05/21/23781962/absa-premiership-wrap-maritzburg-survive-cosmos-relegated |website=Goal |access-date=17 August 2020 |archive-date=29 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729062536/http://www.goal.com/en-za/news/4667/sa-psl/2016/05/21/23781962/absa-premiership-wrap-maritzburg-survive-cosmos-relegated? |url-status=live }}

• Telkom Knockout: 3

::2002, 2003, 2005

• Top 8: 1

::2003

• Nedbank Cup: 1

::1990

• NSL: 1

::1987

• Second Division: 1

::1994

• Most starts: {{flagicon|South Africa}} Andrew Rabutla 229
• Most goals: {{flagicon|Mozambique}} Manuel Bucuane 88
• Most capped player: {{flagicon|Mozambique}} Manuel Bucuane
• Most starts in a season: Webster Lichaba (1986), {{flagicon|South Africa}} Helman Mkhalele (1993) both 46
• Most goals in a season: {{flagicon|South Africa}} Philemon Masinga 27 (1991)
• Record victory: 6–0 vs Grand All Stars (31 August 1985), (Mainstay Cup); vs Mabopane United Brothers (30 August 1986), (Mainstay Cup);
  vs Umtata Bush Bucks (28 March 1992), (NSL); vs Denver Sundowns (21 February 1993), (African Cup Winners Cup)
• Record defeat: 0–5 vs Kaizer Chiefs (24 December 2001), (Coca-Cola Cup)

• 1983  – 9th
• 1984  – 9th

• 1985 – 4th
• 1986 – 12th
• 1987 – 1st
• 1988 – 2nd
• 1989 – 4th
• 1990 – 5th
• 1991 – 7th
• 1992 – 5th
• 1993 – 18th (relegated)

• 1994 – 2nd (promoted)

• 1995 – 10th

• 1996–97 – 7th
• 1997–98 – 7th
• 1998–99 – 10th
• 1999–00 – 7th
• 2000–01 – 4th
• 2001–02 – 4th
• 2002–03 – 8th
• 2003–04 – 13th
• 2004–05 – 13th
• 2005–06 – 9th
• 2006–07 – 7th
• 2007–08 – 16th (relegated)

• 2008–09 – 1st (promoted)

• 2009–10 – 16th (relegated)

• 2010–11 – 1st (promoted)

• 2011–12 – 16th (relegated)

• 2012–13 – 14th
• 2013–14 – 6th
• 2014–15 – 2nd (promoted)

• 2015–16 – 16th (relegated)

• 2016–17 – 10th
• 2017-18 – 3rd
• 2018-19 – 13th
• 2019-20 - 13th
• 2020-21 - 9th
• 2021-21 - 15th (relegated)

• 2022–23 – 3rd
• 2023–24 – 4th

• Owner/Chairman: {{flagicon|South Africa}} Jomo Sono
• Football manager: {{flagicon|South Africa}} Bamuza Sono
• Coach: {{flagicon|South Africa}} Jomo Sono
• Assistant coaches: {{flagicon|Swaziland}} Siza Dlamini & {{flagicon|South Africa}} Gerald Mtshali
• Goalkeeping coaches: {{flagicon|DR Congo}} Mpangi Merikani & {{flagicon|South Africa}} Avril Phali

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.jomocosmos.co.za}}
• [http://www.psl.co.za Premier Soccer League]

{{National First Division}}

{{Greater Johannesburg|sports}}

Category:Association football clubs established in 1983

Category:Premier Soccer League clubs

Category:Soccer clubs in Johannesburg

Category:National First Division clubs

Category:1983 establishments in South Africa