ABC Motsepe League, Motsepe Foundation | 5 October 2026
Jomo Cosmos got the job done the hard way, grinding out a 1-0 win over Young Pirates FC in the ABC Motsepe League thanks to a single second-half moment of quality. Vhugali Tito Mulidzi settled a tight contest in the 57th minute, finding the breakthrough that separated two well-matched sides and handing Ezenkosi three valuable points. In a division where clean sheets and narrow margins decide seasons, it was precisely the kind of result a promotion-minded club wants to bank.
One goal, three points
There was nothing between the sides for long stretches, and games like this often turn on a single decisive act. Mulidzi provided it just before the hour mark, breaking the deadlock on 57 minutes to give Cosmos a lead they would not relinquish. From there it became an exercise in game management — protecting the advantage, seeing off whatever Young Pirates could muster, and making sure the one goal was enough. It was, and the final whistle confirmed a clean sheet to go with the win.
The grind of the Motsepe Foundation
For a club of Jomo Cosmos’ pedigree, the ABC Motsepe League is a test of patience as much as quality. Every opponent lifts their game against Ezenkosi, and matches are rarely the free-flowing affairs the club’s famous name might suggest. Winning 1-0 against a committed Young Pirates outfit, keeping the back door shut and taking the one chance that mattered, is the template for climbing this division. Results, not performances, are the currency here, and Cosmos pocketed the full return.
Final word
Jomo Cosmos remain one of South African football’s most storied names, and the road back towards the professional ranks is paved with afternoons exactly like this one. A narrow win over Young Pirates will not make headlines beyond the division, but it does something more important — it keeps the campaign ticking and reminds everyone that Ezenkosi know how to win ugly when they have to. Mulidzi got the goal; the whole side earned the three points.
