Why coaching Polokwane City remains Clinton Larsen’s biggest regret
Newly appointed Magesi FC coach Clinton Larsen insists his image was tarnished following the short stint at Polokwane City.
Clinton Larsen spent six months at Rise and Shine between December 2019 and May 2020. The same season, Polokwane City was relegated to the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
Larsen was tasked with saving the club from relegation, but it was a little too late for the Limpopo side, as the damage had already been done.
TAKING POLOKWANE CITY TASK WAS A MISTAKE
The 51-year-old revealed during a press briefing on Wednesday that taking up the Polokwane City job was the biggest mistake of his career.
“Some of you may know what happened in the past at Polokwane City. I have always said this, and I am not mincing my word about it. (It was) probably the biggest mistake I made in my career, taking on that task,” said Larsen while being officially unveiled by Magesi.
“I have never seen a situation where a team has lost 10 games in a row. Then a coach has got to come in and try and work his magic to save the team. Although we improved the team back then, it wasn’t enough.
“I also felt that somehow my image was tarnished, but that is football for you. I lived with it. People don’t often want to talk about the good work you do; they always look at the mistakes you made,” he added.
2023 A SPECIAL YEAR FOR LARSEN
“I would like to think 2023 is a special year for me,” said the 51-year-old.
“It will be 20 years (in the coaching industry). I started in 2003 in the NFD with Durban Stars and Nathi Lions before I got my break in the PSL in 2008 with Gordon Igesund in Maritzburg.
“So this marks 20 years of coaching for me. It’s a special year for me, and I look forward to what we try to achieve.”
The former Orlando Pirates player has also been in charge of teams such as Bloemfontein Celtic, Maritzburg United, Golden Arrows and Chippa United.
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