Shedender's Journeyman Career

Thanks George. I'm surprised at how we'll we're doing this season.

Cheers Tommo, surely even I can't balls up a potential league title for Jomo?

Correct Dan, if I fail to win the league with such a healty lead then I will uninstall the game and never touch it again.

Playoff spot confirmed while we're closing in on the league title

So with my side fourteen points clear at the top of the NFD league table it was surely just a matter of time before the league was wrapped up, we looked to secure the trophy in March with four games against Vasco, Santos, Thanda and Sivutsa, could we do it or would we need to wait a little longer to celebrate?


March kicked off with a home clash against Vasco Cape Town as we recorded a well deserved three one success with all the goals coming in the first half. Striker Mbongo opened the scoring on seven minutes but Jacobs equalized on twenty-seven, two goals within a eight minute period from Kaimbi and Sono sealed the points. We ended the game with ten men though as Thompson was sent off in stoppage time.

We then headed to Santos and despite producing a good performance on the road we slipped to a disappointing three two defeat as the home side took a three goal lead when Kaibe (11), Sibanda own goal (51) and Omaticus (70) all struck but central defender Sibanda redeemed himself for the own goal with two goals inside the final twelve minutes but we couldn't get level.

A home game with Thanda was next as they secured a single goal win as Hlongwa struck on sixty-eight minutes, disappointing.

The month would finish with a trip to Sivutsa Stars as we returned to winning ways and secured a playoff spot too thanks to a three two away success, Mbongo scored twice along with Kaimbi while Buthelezi and Vilakazi struck for the hosts.


With a playoff spot secured and my side now only eight points clear due to those two disappointing defeats, we are still in the driving seat and it's still surely a matter of time before the league is won with just four games remaining. Cape Town look certain for the drop.


Our intakes for the season and I'm pleased with the talent that's come through, I've decided to sign them all up as they could have big futures at Jomo Cosmos if they're used properly. Nilsen is arguably the best and looks like he could be used in the first team immediately but won't be.

The title is there for the taking in the next month pal!

The youth intake looks good, but is that based on their ability they will reach if they remain in this league? It may drop a bit next season in a higher league but still some quality there!

Good work here mate. Promotion on the horizon!

Good work again and a nice youth intake there

Cracking start of a career, that will be a nice boost to your reputation.

We should be able to wrap it up within the next game or two all being well Dan. I'm not sure, I'm hoping they'll be able to remain almost the same in the Premiership as they all look like they could do jobs in the future.

Indeed it is Charlie, can't wait to wrap it up as it'll lift the pressure of us.

Cheers Tommo.

Thanks Dyrim, I'm still trying to work my way through the dumbed down tactics screen and trying to keep more clean sheets. Next season is going to be more difficult.



With just four league games remaining it was important that we tried to wrap up the league title within the month of April as it would lift the pressure of us for sure. Just two games will be played this month at home to Witbank Spurs and away to struggling Maluti.


The side hosted Witbank Spurs to start the penultimate month of the season and we recorded a 3-1 success as both central defenders got on the score sheet - Makhanya scored twice while Sibanda got the other goal, Ntombela pulled one back early in the second half but it was only a consolation.

Second place Santos dretw 3-3 with Chippa to see us secure the league title!

We then played our second and last match this month away to Maluti FET and secured an excellent five two away win as B. Sono broke the deadlock on eleven minutes but the hosts equalized five minutes later, Makhanya and Mbongo then put us 3-1 up before half time and then further goals from M. Sono and Sibanda wrapped up the points but the home side scored the last goal of the game when Ngwazi made it five two with nineteen minutes left.


CHAMPIONS! A sensational season has seen us wrap up the league title finishing ten points clear of runners-up Santos who take the playoff spot. Maluti and Cape Town have been relegated as both sides finished on sixteen points. Chippa were the surprise disappointments as the preseason league favorites won't even secure a playoff spot.

Just one more playoff spot has to be secured with two games left.

Get the last two games played and wrapup your first fm14 season pal! well done on the title

They're going to be posted now Dan chum, I'm as surprised as you that I've completed my first season.



With the league title finally wrapped up last month, the pressure was officially off us as my side entered the final month of the season with back to back home games against Blackburn and Baroka to wrap up the season.


Our penultimate game was at home to Blackburn and we suffered a disappointing two one defeat as two Simandla goals, including a penalty had the visitors two goals up before substitute Dlamini halved the deficit but Blackburn held on for a massive three points.

And a second straight home game would finish the season as we defeated Baroka four three in an entertaining game as the visitors broke the deadlock on twenty-three minutes through Walaza before Sibanda headed home an equalizer ten minutes later but that leveler only lasted two minutes because Rantje gave the visitors the lead. We equalized for a second time on fifty-eight minutes when Monare scored but again we fell behind before late goals from Badenhorst and Sibanda's second of the game wrapped up victory.


So with the season officially wrapped up we have finished seven points clear of second place Santos while Black Leopards secured the final playoff spot. Preseason favorites Chippa finished in a disappointing sixth place.

On the back of my excellent first season in South Africa it was almost time to face a tougher challenge, our first season in the Premiership under my stewardship and we are predicted to finish rock bottom in what'll be a difficult season. Can we achieve survival or will it be relegation back to the NFD?


Expectations are to stay clear of relegation this season and nothing more - three choices I can choose are Avoid relegation, Mid-table finish or Top half finish but I'm just annoyed that none of the options give us a transfer budget.

There was only one option I could choose and that was to avoid relegation and that's seen us have a wage budget of thirty grand, am I confident we can avoid the drop? Sure but it's not going to be easy.


Five preseason games have been arranged to try and get confidence ahead of the new season, four will be away and one at home.

We will start with a trip to Alex United before heading to City Sharks three days later and than Batau also three days later, four days later we will visit FC Alexandra before concluding our preseason program four days after that with our only home game against The Vardos.

Once again congratz on promotion and the title, ytough budgets to work with but I know you like the shoestring budgets! good luck chief!

Thanks Dan, winning the league was a huge achievement but now the hard work starts and the rubbish budgets don't help matters and it's going to be difficult because we're predicted to finish rock bottom.



As we embarked on our journey in the Premiership I felt we needed to make several signings to add depth to the squad as I had no intention to break up the team that won the league last season. Eleven players arrived while fifteen would end up departing the club but we'll get into that shortly.


Two players arrived on the opening day of the transfer window after they had signed pre-contracts as Mokgama and Gumede signed from Carara Kicks and Golden Arrows respectively.

Striker Shoro was our third signing of the summer as he arrived following his release from Tuks, left back Mohlaka joined after he departed NFD side Roses while another striker Bell joined on a free after his contract had expired at Thanda Royal Zulu. Centre back Lucky Mokoena joined after he left Wits.

Our seventh summer signing has seen Cele join after his release from Golden Arrows and had spent last season at Thanda, Mncube has also joined the club after he left Black Aces, central midfielder George arrived from semi-professional side Old Mutual, striker Erbin and central midfielder Ngema was the tenth and eleventh signing this summer.

Thirteen players left the club this summer after their contracts had expired and they wouldn't sign new deals. Reserve midfielder Dlangudlangu has joined Swallows while Sibanda was our biggest departure as he joined Austrian side Ried for a hundred grand.


We had an excellent preseason programe as we won five games out of five comprehensively and things started with a four two win away to Alex before beating City Sharks five two and then Batau three one to finish up July.

Our first preseason game in August was away to Alexandra who we defeated three one before our preparations concluded with a third three one victory this time at home to The Vardos.

Well done on winning the league ! Really good win ! Also really good pre season best of luck next season

Wow thats a big switch of players this summer, but a good run in pre season, best of luck with the season!

Cheers George, the league win was impressive and even more so due to our inability to keep clean sheets. This season is going to be difficult so I need all the luck I can get.

Eleven in and fifteen out it ended up at Dan but only a few are actually going to be regulars in the first team, the rest will be squad players called upon when needed.



On the back of an unbeaten preseason program we looked to kick on and attempted to start our Premiership campaign in style as we had four games in the opening month against Wits, SuperSport, Bloem Celtic and Tukss - it proved to be a mixed start.


Life in the ABSA Premiership started away to Wits and we managed to pick up a draw on the opening day following a one all draw. Winger Cele, on his debut opened the scoring on seven minutes but the hosts equalized on twenty-eight minutes through Mokeke and that's how it remained.

Our first home game of the game was against SuperSport United and it was one to forget as the visitors powered themselves to a five one victory as goals from Shellar and Phala had SuperSport two up at the interval. Attacking midfielder Mokoena pulled one back early in the second half but that would be the only joy we had as further goals from Grobler, Somma and Chenene completed the easy win.

We had a second consecutive home game as we welcomed Bloem to the Makhulong as we recorded our first result of the season, winning four one. The deadlock was broken on eleven minutes through Cele's second goal of the season before Mokoena doubled the lead on twenty minutes and that's how it stayed until Kwenene made it three on sixty-eight and a second substitute White made it four nil, we couldn't keep a clean sheet though as they pulled one back with nine minutes left.

The opening month concluded with a trip to Tuks and despite being the better side it turned out to be a dismal afternoon losing six two. Two goals from Makgothi along with one from Mabena and another from Mashego had the hosts four nil up after only twenty-seven minutes, we pulled a goal back through Cele on fifty-three minutes but Mabena's second made it five one just two minutes later and then Mokoena added a second goal but Mabena completed his hat trick and the scoring to make it six two and complete another dismal game.


We're tenth. Wee have conceded thirteen goals in our four games but yet scored eight times. Not much else to say at this early stage.

Shhhhiiii thats a lot of goals shipped in your opening month, but not the worst! Good to get the points up early!

Indeed it is Dan but we're predicted to finish bottom for a reason I suppose. One win so far but hopefully not the last.



After a decent start to the league season that had saw us win one, draw one and lose two from our opening four games it was importannt we attempted to bounce back after a shocking defeat to Tuks - we had two games against Kaizer Chiefs and Black Aces.


We would begin the month at home to Kaizer Chiefs and an unacceptable performance saw us lose 5-0 and we lost our goalkeeper after only fourteen minutes for two yellow cards - Gould, Tshabalala 2, Majoro and Letsholonyane scored for the visitors as they dominated on chances.

Our second and final game this short month was away to Black Aces and we slipped to a four two defeat as Nhlapho opened the scoring on ten minutes before Paulse doubled the lead eight minutes later, an own goal from Murambadoro made it two one but Ngobeni added a third on thirty-eight minutes before Shitolo headed home a second on the stroke of half time but Mwanjale's second half goal sealed the win for the home side.


Three games without a win has seen us plummet down the table as we're now in fourteenth place with just one win from our opening six games and still shipping goals - twenty-two conceded now with just ten scored.

Ouch thats another two heavy defeats, expected it against Kaizer but not so much against MP Black aces! Come on pal find something that works!

unlucky with the start mate ! Alot of goals conceded but you are still outside the relegation places hopefully you can stay there !

Looks like it's going to be a long hard slog this year hopefully you'll have enougth about you to stay up.

I'm trying but there is a major reason why we're predicted to finish bottom Dan, they're fifteen better clubs in the league.

Some of the defending has been comical George but we need to start picking up points and quick as I don't want to be emboyled in a relegation battle.

As I expected it to be Rick, yet again our lone striker is struggling to score goals and maybe I need to change the tactic but we'll see how this month goes before considered.



It's been a poor but probably expected start to life in the Premiership for my Jomo Cosmos side just one competitive win to date and October wasn't going to be any easier ass we had two home league fixtures, including champions Sundowns along with a Telkom Knockout cup game away from home.


Our first of two consecutive home games was against Swallows and despite being second best throughout we managed to hold onto a 0-0 draw to end three straight defeats.

Seventeen days later we hosted champions Sundowns and produced an unbelievable result to defeat them two nil and they were down to nine men at the time (two injuries after all substitutes were made) but I don't care. We broke the deadlock on seventy-six minutes through defender Shitolo before M. Sono added a second with seven minutes left to seal the points.

We then traveled to Golden Arrows for our first round Telkom Knockout game and despite going behind twice we managed to produce an excellent four two win. Kaimbi, a Bell double and B. Sono scored our goals as we advance to the next round.


Four points from the two league games has seen us starting to climb the league table and we're now in twelfth place.

I can't recommend 5-3-2 with wing backs highly enougth if your struggling. It's working a treat for me with my lowly African club.

Looks like there is a hugh difference at strength between the top and bottem teams. So I feel you will be fine as one of the top teams of the weaker side of the laugue.

Much better matey, as long as you pick up the points against the weaker sides you will be fine this season!

I've actually considered playing with wing backs in the past Rick but at the moment I'm happy with the formation we're currently using.

Seems that way Dyrim. In preseason I had targeted a fourteenth place finish and that hasn't changed. I just want to survive this season and hopefully build on it.

You see that's the problem I sometimes have Dan, I can beat the self proclaimed "bigger sides" but struggle sometimes against the "smaller sides", it's bloody annoying.



With the form seemingly turning the corner with three games undefeated in all competitions we entered the penultimate month of the year with confidence as we looked to continue our push away from a potential relegation battle. Three league games and two Telkom Knockout ties await us this month as we look to have another great month.


We couldn't have asked for a tougher start to the month as we had to travel to Orlando Pirates and an excellent performance saw us run out two one winners thanks to two Sono spot kicks, he scored after five and fifty-seven minutes to seal an impressive away win.

Four days later we hosted Maritzburg United in a Telkom Knockout quarter final and my side managed to advance two one after extra time and we fell behind in the first half but equalized on fifty-five minutes through M. Sono, minutes after Maritzburg were reduced to ten men and then Kaimbi struck the winner in the one hundred and first minute.

It was almost two weeks until our next match as we welcomed Sundowns in the Telkom semi final and an excellent display saw us beat the league champions three one. Cele and a double from striker Bell sealed an impressive win. Ajax Cape Town await in the final next month.

Our penultimate league game this month was away to FS Stars and we could only manage a one all draw as Cele scored our goal on sixty-three minutes.

And the month concluded with a home fixture against Amazulu and we picked up a well deserved two nil victory as Bell scored his first league goals for the club after thirty-nine and forty-four minutes respectively.


The recent good form has seen us climb up the table as we're now in tenth place with four wins and three draws from our opening eleven games and eight points ahead of the second bottom playoff spot. If this form can continue then we should be grand this season but still a long way to go.


The final piece of news this month is huge news. I have agreed to sign a new contract to remain at Jomo Cosmos for up to the next three years as I only had eight months to remain on my current deal. They had originally only offered me a one-year deal but I found that unacceptable and wasn't going to accept unless they gave me longer.

Ah looks like its coming together now! Nice bit of form and well done on reaching the final!

Seems like it is Dan but I'm not going to get carried away until we're officially safe in the Premiership.



Our current unbeaten run is at eight games in all competitions heading into the final month of twenty fourteen. December will see us face Golden Arrows, Platinum Stars and Ajax CT in the league while we faced the same opposition in the Telkom Knockout final.


December began with a trip to Golden Arrows and we headed home with a four one victory as goals from Bell, Kaimbi and Sono had us three one up at half time as Manaka had equalised at one stage, Mokgama added a fourth with fifteen minutes remaining.

We then made the trip to Platinum Stars as our unbeaten run stretched to ten games after a three all draw. Winger Cele gave us a twenty-first minute lead before Mokoena doubled the lead two minutes later but the home side halved the deficit three minutes through Mthembu and then Chinyama made it two all on fifty-six minutes. With the game entering stoppage time Mthembu's second of the game looked to have ended our unbeaten run but Cele's second of the game rescued us a point.

Next up was the huge Telkom Knockout final against Ajax Cape Town and they deservedly defeated us two one in Soweto. Ajax CT took a thirty-sixth minute lead through Isaacs, Motau leveled on sixty-one minutes but Ajax won the cup when Manyama scored the winner with nine minutes left.

Our final game of the year was against Ajax who we managed to defeat two one and took the lead on seventeen minutes through Bell however Ajax made it one all on twenty-three through Krjauklis. Ajax went down to ten when Scott was received a straight red card before Mokoena scored the winner on fifty-four minutes.


We will be heading into the New Year in eighth place after we had hit some excellent form that has seen one defeat in the past twelve games in all competitions. We are currently twelve points above the relegation playoff spot.

Looking very decent at this point and a final is always a chance to add to the silverware. Altho you will probably be a longshot against Ajax CT. But with current form you never know.

Unlucky in the final buddy! Great league form though

unlucky in the final ! But well done turning around your league form !

Unfortunately we didn't win the final against Ajax CT Dyrim but sure survival is all I care about this season and nothing else.

Thanks Dan but we didn't play that well in the final and Ajax fully deserved their win.

Cheers, I'm really pleased we have managed to turn the form around George especially after the shifty start we had made to the season.



Come the end of twenty fourteen we found ourselves in a respectable eighth place and twelve points above the relegation zone as we looked to survive this season. The New Year arrived with four tough games with back to back home and away games - we would face Maritzburg, Wits, SuperSport and Bloem Celtic in the opening month before another long break.


The New Year started with a home fixture against Maritzburg United and we only managed a two all draw as striker Bell struck twice after sixty-seven and seventy minutes but we couldn't hold on.

Just four days later we had our second home game of twenty fifteen against Wits and we demolished them five one as the visitors were dismissed to ten men early on. Goals from Cele, Kaimbi and Mokoena had scored three goals inside the opening twenty minutes before Mokgama headed home on fifty-six minutes and then Mokoena's second sealed an impressive win against the ten men.

Our first away game of the month was against SuperSport United and a stunning display saw us run out three two victors as Bell, Makhanya and Kaimbi scored our goals as we got revenge for the beating they gave us earlier in the season.

January would finish with a trip to struggling Bloem Celtic who we defeated two one as both defenders got on the score sheet within two minutes of each other - Makhanya headed home on thirty-nine minutes before Shitolo scored our second on forty-one.


Our unbelievable start to the season continues as we're up to fifth place with nine wins and five draws from our eighteen games played and we are currently nineteen points clear of relegation and look set to escape the drop against all the odds.