Cosmos on a PSL sabbatical during the last three seasons, returned after they won the three-team playoffs that also involved Moroka Swallows and Black Leopards on the last day of the 6-game competition.
Mashumba did not score in Cosmos’ 1-0 win over Swallows in the last game of the playoffs, but his 17 goals in the National First Division led the Johannesburg-based side to the knockout stage of the promotion race. He also scored a brace as Ezenkosi rallied to the 4-1 win over Swallows, which not only saw them recover from a 2-0 first-game loss to Leopards, but also put them on the even-keel with a goal advantage over the other two sides.
Jomo Sono’s side ended the playoffs tied on seven points with Leopards, but got promotion to the PSL on a superior goal difference.
Sono confirmed that the Zimbabwean striker, who has seemingly attracted the interest of bigger clubs like Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns, was more likely to be lost than retained by Cosmos during the off-season break, as the 22-year-old was expected to join another PSL side or move to Europe, depending on who tables the best offer.
Sundowns and Chiefs have been sniffing around, while clubs in Belgium and France have also been mentioned here and there regarding the striker, who, according to the leading South African soccer magazine – Kickoff, prefers a move to PSL champions Chiefs.
“It is going to be sad that I will not be with the team next season but for now I think I will have to sit down with 'Bra J' [Sono] and hear what is on offer," Mashumba told Kickoff early this week.
“However, I think it is sad that I will be leaving this team because they gave me the exposure and opportunity to make a name. I would like to be overseas because that is every players’ dream to play in Europe but if things don’t go well with that option then I will be honoured to join any of the teams that finished in the top four PSL teams last season. Plus if I move to a PSL team then I will just have to keep on doing my best and score goals as that is what I get paid to do as a striker. As a striker you have to score and assist so I just hope that I will continue with my form in the PSL.”
Sono himself told the media early this week that Mashumba was almost as good as gone from the Cosmos dressing room.
“He is the only player who has a big, strong possibility of leaving. I can say there are more chances that he will go than stay. I think it is 99 percent that he will be gone somewhere in the world,” said Sono.
“We have an offer from one of the PSL teams and we also have two offers from Europe and we will check. You lose a lot of money in the NFD as it is not a good place to be so. The deal is not signed yet, but he is just as good as gone. I would have liked to keep him, but I think it is also good for him to go.”
Post published in: Football