Kaizer Motaung of Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza and Jomo Cosmos boss Jomo Sono Chivaviro. Photo: @KaizerChiefs

Kaizer Motaung of Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza and Jomo Cosmos boss Jomo Sono. Photo: @KaizerChiefs

Ex-Cosmos star on how Jomo cornered him into snubbing Chiefs

Former Jomo Cosmos defender Andrew Rabutla has revealed that how he almost joined Kaizer Chiefs prior to being cornered by Jomo Sono.

Kaizer Motaung of Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza and Jomo Cosmos boss Jomo Sono Chivaviro. Photo: @KaizerChiefs

Kaizer Motaung of Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza and Jomo Cosmos boss Jomo Sono. Photo: @KaizerChiefs

Former Jomo Cosmos defender Andrew Rabutla has revealed that how he almost joined Kaizer Chiefs prior to being cornered by Jomo Sono.

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In an interview with Sowetan, Rabutla said he got an offer from Chiefs chairman Dr Kaizer Motaung while he was in the Mamelodi Sundowns development.

However, as he was about to accept the offer, Sono pounced and convinced him to join Cosmos, and he did so because he guaranteed him game time.

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What Sono asked Rabutla was whether or not the then Chiefs coach would play him, and the lanky defender wasn’t that sure and didn’t have an answer.

HOW RABUTLA WAS CLOSE TO JOINING KAIZER CHIEFS FROM SUNDOWNS

“I got an offer from Amakhosi chairman Kaizer Motaung while I was playing for the Sundowns reserve team. He told me to come join them but as I was about to accept the offer, Bra J [Sono] cornered me and told me that he owns and coaches Jomo Cosmos,” revealed Rabutla.

“So, he asked me how sure I am that the coach at Chiefs will give me game time, and that’s when I took a decision to follow him (Sono) because he gave me that reassurance I needed as a soccer player at the time,” added Rabutla.

Pirates
Ephraim Sono, Coach of Jomo Cosmos FC during the GladAfrica Championship 2021/22 match between Richards Bays and Jomo Cosmos at King Zwelithini Stadium, Durban on 22 February 2022 ©Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix.

RABUTLA WENT ON TO BECOME A JOMO COSMOS LEGEND

The now 51-year-old went on to become a Jomo Cosmos legend over the two stints he had with the club between 1996 and 2006.

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He first played a season between 1996 and 1997 before moving to Greece to sign with PAOK in 1997 but he was back at Cosmos the following year.

Rabutla featured in close to 300 competitive matches for Ezenkosi, and won many Cup titles under the leadership of Sono.

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