The architect of Magesi FC’s historic Carling Knockout Cup triumph, Clinton Larsen, has reflected on his career downturn, stating that ‘some PSL bosses felt’ he was not good enough as he had to manage a third-tier side almost two years ago.
Larsen, who has previously spearheaded Bloemfontein Celtic, Golden Arrows, Maritzburg United, Chippa United and Polokwane City FC, found himself coaching in the ABC Motsepe League at Summerfield FC in KwaZulu-Natal between 2021 and 2023.
He later joined Dikwena tša Meetse, where he successfully guided the club to promotion to the Betway Premiership at the end of the previous season. He won the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
Larsen masterminded a historic upset, guiding Magesi to their first top-flight trophy with a stunning 2-1 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns in the Carling Knockout Cup final on Saturday.
He has etched his name in SA football history, securing his second League Cup final victory over Sundowns, mirroring his 2012 triumph with Bloemfontein Celtic. This achievement places him alongside Kaizer Chiefs’ legend Paul Dolezar as the only PSL coach to beat Sundowns twice in this prestigious final.
During the post-match press conference, Larsen discussed the recent period in which he was perceived as having fallen from grace.
He acknowledged that he had lost the confidence of top-flight club owners following the relegation of Polokwane City FC, who were under his tutelage in 2020. But he expressed his gratitude to Summerfield for providing him with an opportunity to revive himself.
CLINTON LARSEN ON HIS CAREER DOWNTURN
“Yeah, it depends on who you ask if I was written off. I mean, Summerfield didn’t write me off; they gave me an opportunity,” said Larsen.
“Maybe you’re talking Premier League. You know, sometimes as a coach, when you’re involved in, whether you’re at a club and it gets relegated, somehow people lose faith in your ability as a coach.
“And I went to a Polokwane City team. The day I arrived, they had just lost 10 games in a row, 10 games. So from 30 points, they had got zero.
“We went into a bubble [a biologically safe environment during COVID-19], and it was a very complicated bubble for Polokwane City, and yeah, things didn’t work out. The club got relegated. And probably some PSL bosses felt this coach is not good enough. And that’s how things fanned out.
“For three seasons, I was out of the league. But I still worked in the ABC [Motsepe League] and joined Magesi in the NFD. And now I’m trying to survive one more time in the PSL.”
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