Massa makes Jomo Cosmos debut
Dec 02, 2007
THE wait is finally over! After a protracted transfer battle akin to the one that was undergone by Manchester United forward Carlos Tevez, Ugandan star Geoffrey Massa has finally won and is officially a Jomo Cosmos player.
By Fred Kaweesi
Sunday result
Swallows 1 Cosmos 3
Saturday
Telkom Cup final
Chiefs 0 (3) Sundowns 0 (2)
THE wait is finally over! After a protracted transfer battle akin to the one that was undergone by Manchester United forward Carlos Tevez, Ugandan star Geoffrey Massa has finally won and is officially a Jomo Cosmos player.
The Cranes forward, who was finally issued with an international certificate on Friday, announced his arrival in the South Africa domestic league with an impressive debut start as Cosmos obliterated Moroko Swallows 3-1 on Sunday.
The 22-year-old brilliantly crafted an early lead on just three minutes after deceptively darting into the box and winning a penalty for his side.
His precious assist for Cosmos’ third goal was the best possible way of celebrating the end of a bidding war over his move from Egyptian club El Shams that had dragged on for four months.
“I am extremely happy with my performance. Cosmos boss Jomo Sono is also happy and has even promised to take me out for a cup of tea,†Massa said in the aftermath of the game.
Massa, whose efforts of securing career dream moves to Europe had persistently been thwarted by the Egyptian club, joins Cosmos for US$150,000 (sh248m), with the hope of re-igniting his previous intended move to Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon after three seasons.
“I have a fully contained house,†he added.
The move, under agreement with Sono, is expected to offer Massa a route to Europe as compared at El Shams.
Against Swallows, Massa’s intelligence as a footballer was apparent to anyone who cared to look, his movement simply too clever and too quick for anyone to get close enough to him despite being sitting most of the first round in the ABSA league.
Talent is the one thing Massa hasn’t had to worry about. But talent is not enough by its self –devotion and sacrifice; he insists are pillars that will eventually see him break through Europe next season.
“I will give my best in my one year at Cosmos hoping to grab that big chance of moving on,†he added.
El Shams, had on two occasions blocked the Cranes star’s transfer to first French side Lille and later Lisbon, with the Cairo-based club not willing to give way for any negotiations.
His three-year contract at El Shams that was due to expire next year however held a clause that Somo exploited.
The clause allowed the striker to move if a top side showed up with a respectable offer.
Massa becomes the seventh Ugandan to join the South African football ranks after David Obua (Kaizer Chiefs), Denis Onyango (Supersport), Timothy Batabaire, Posnet Omwony (Bloemfontein Celtic), Hassan Wasswa and Geoffrey Sserunkuuma (AK FC).
Meanwhile, David Obua on Saturday secured only his third Cup medal after Kaizer Chiefs overcame Mamelodi Sundowns with a 3-2 penalty shoot-out win in the Telkom Cup final at Loftus Stadium. He played for 67 minutes.
Sunday result
Swallows 1 Cosmos 3
Saturday
Telkom Cup final
Chiefs 0 (3) Sundowns 0 (2)
THE wait is finally over! After a protracted transfer battle akin to the one that was undergone by Manchester United forward Carlos Tevez, Ugandan star Geoffrey Massa has finally won and is officially a Jomo Cosmos player.
The Cranes forward, who was finally issued with an international certificate on Friday, announced his arrival in the South Africa domestic league with an impressive debut start as Cosmos obliterated Moroko Swallows 3-1 on Sunday.
The 22-year-old brilliantly crafted an early lead on just three minutes after deceptively darting into the box and winning a penalty for his side.
His precious assist for Cosmos’ third goal was the best possible way of celebrating the end of a bidding war over his move from Egyptian club El Shams that had dragged on for four months.
“I am extremely happy with my performance. Cosmos boss Jomo Sono is also happy and has even promised to take me out for a cup of tea,†Massa said in the aftermath of the game.
Massa, whose efforts of securing career dream moves to Europe had persistently been thwarted by the Egyptian club, joins Cosmos for US$150,000 (sh248m), with the hope of re-igniting his previous intended move to Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon after three seasons.
“I have a fully contained house,†he added.
The move, under agreement with Sono, is expected to offer Massa a route to Europe as compared at El Shams.
Against Swallows, Massa’s intelligence as a footballer was apparent to anyone who cared to look, his movement simply too clever and too quick for anyone to get close enough to him despite being sitting most of the first round in the ABSA league.
Talent is the one thing Massa hasn’t had to worry about. But talent is not enough by its self –devotion and sacrifice; he insists are pillars that will eventually see him break through Europe next season.
“I will give my best in my one year at Cosmos hoping to grab that big chance of moving on,†he added.
El Shams, had on two occasions blocked the Cranes star’s transfer to first French side Lille and later Lisbon, with the Cairo-based club not willing to give way for any negotiations.
His three-year contract at El Shams that was due to expire next year however held a clause that Somo exploited.
The clause allowed the striker to move if a top side showed up with a respectable offer.
Massa becomes the seventh Ugandan to join the South African football ranks after David Obua (Kaizer Chiefs), Denis Onyango (Supersport), Timothy Batabaire, Posnet Omwony (Bloemfontein Celtic), Hassan Wasswa and Geoffrey Sserunkuuma (AK FC).
Meanwhile, David Obua on Saturday secured only his third Cup medal after Kaizer Chiefs overcame Mamelodi Sundowns with a 3-2 penalty shoot-out win in the Telkom Cup final at Loftus Stadium. He played for 67 minutes.