Magesi FC coach Clinton Larsen might not be a serial cup winning coach, but whenever he meets Mamelodi Sundowns in a cup final, he always comes out tops.
In a coaching career which has spanned for more than two decades, Larsen has only won two domestic cups – the Telkom Knockout and Carling Knockout.
This is the same competition. It’s just that they’ve changed sponsors over the years, with Larsen winning the Telkom Knockout in 2012 and Carling Knockout this year.
The 53-year-old coach incredibly won both trophies against Sundowns, with the initial victory coming during his stint with the defunct Bloemfontein Celtic.
Larsen’s win with Magesi came on Saturday. It was a déjà vu moment for him such that in his wildest dreams he wouldn’t have scripted the triumph even if he tried his best.
Dikwena beat the Brazilians at Larsen’s second home – Bloemfontein – as the people of the City of Roses welcomed him back and adopted his team as their own.
And that’s not all. Larsen went into this match as an underdog compared to counterpart Manqoba Mngqithi who has all the resources money could buy at his disposal.
So as such, Larsen, speaking in the post-match press conference deep in the bowels of Toyota Stadium and soaked in champagne, reflected on what his recent triumph means.
“This (triumph) is probably ranked up there with one of my best achievements as a coach,” Larsen gushed.
“In 21 years of experience as a coach – I started in the 2003/04 season with Durban Stars in the NFD – it’s been a long while. And I’ve only been to two finals.
“So that must tell you how difficult it is to reach cup finals. But I am happy that I have been to two and won two. So, it’s a 100% record!”
2 - This is the second time Clinton Larsen has won a League Cup final against Sundowns (also 2012 at Celtic). He's only the second PSL coach to beat Sundowns twice in the final of this competition after Kaizer Chiefs' Paul Dolezar (1997 & 1998). Deja-vu. pic.twitter.com/4NS0LhbRRT
— OptaJabu (@OptaJabu) November 23, 2024
Larsen’s triumph over the Brazilians in cup finals are along the same lines – except it’s been a different cast and different crew over the years.
However, the Durban born coach put his head on the block and explained which victory was difficult to acquire most between the two, dating back to 2012, and why.
“This one was more difficult,” Larsen said. “Back then in 2012, even though they had the Hlompho Kekanas, we weren’t playing against the national team.
“This felt like playing Bafana Bafana tonight. Six of their players started for Bafana the other day. There were few on the bench as well. So, they have so much quality at their disposal.
“I also felt I had so much experience in that team of 2012. The Kurt Lentjies’ of this world had so many games behind them.
“In this group, six of my starters have six games in the PSL top-flight, so in terms of collective experience we are very low in that department.”
Magesi have signed a handful of experienced players over the years, including goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze who was their cornerstone in the Carling Knockout outstanding run.
But with the season still in its teething days, Larsen knows that they’ll blow hot and cold. However, he’s marked a time in which he expects his troops to find consistency.
“I think that’s (consistency) going to come with experience. Performances are always going to fluctuate when you’ve got a young inexperienced group,” Larsen explained.
“I think maybe midway through the season, or the second half of the season, we’ll start to see the team manage games a little bit better, and believe in themselves a little bit better.
“This is something that we are lacking now. So that’ll improve in time. I can see the players are growing. They just need to believe more and more in themselves.
“A lot of them are still doubting whether they are good enough to play at this level. But surely after tonight, I think we can see that they do.”