Magesi FC coach Clinton Larsen resigned live on television immediately after the 3-0 defeat by the Carling All Stars XI on Saturday. The Carling Knockout winner, Magesi, took on a select PSL side voted for by fans in the Carling Black Label Cup.
The Jose Riveiro-coached All-Stars raced to a 3-0 lead halfway through the first half, putting Larsen’s charges to the sword early in the game. The Limpopo side, who staged a dramatic comeback in the Knockout final, struggled to bounce back at Orlando Stadium.
At the end of the match, during his routine post-match interview, Larsen announced that this was his last game. Among other reasons, he said he felt it was time to step down and let the club bring in fresh leadership.
Having guided them to automatic promotion at the first attempt, things haven’t gone well for the Premiership newcomers in the Betway Premiership. They are currently at the basement of the table, with just one win out of nine games. They drew three times and lost five.
“Yeah, very disappointing first-half performance,” he told SuperSport TV. “Seven away games in a row. Lots of travelling. I think it’s really taken its toll on the players. And like I keep saying, we don’t really have the depth to make too many changes in our team. So, the players tried really, really hard today, but we were outclassed in all departments today, let’s be honest.”
HERE’S WHAT CLINTON LARSEN SAID AS HE RESIGNED
“And yeah, I just want to thank the players once again for their efforts. I thought they always give their all. They make a lot of mistakes in the process, but they give their all.
“It was my last game as the Magesi coach today. I’m bidding farewell to the club after two years of promoting the team or helping promote the team with my technical team, as well as winning a trophy.
“Two moments I’m very proud of, and I want to wish the club everything of the best moving forward. The chairman for giving me the opportunity to lead this project for two years, to the management, to my technical team, and especially to my players.
“I know a lot of them are going to miss me. Over two years, you forge strong bonds with certain individuals,and I want to wish them everything of the best moving forward. They deserve it.
“It’s an opportunity for the club to bring in fresh leadership, fresh voice, fresh energy, and fresh footballing ideas, and hopefully, that will be enough to take them to greater heights in the league.”
“Obviously, I can’t tell you where I’m going, so I’ll be unemployed as of the next 5 minutes. This decision is based purely on me not getting the best out of this group of players in the league.
“And with 21 games still to play, I’m affording the club the opportunity to bring in somebody who can change the club’s fortunes. It’s not working for me with this group at the moment, and I wanna wish them everything.”
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