Magesi FC coach Clinton Larsen says being afforded free rein to perform his managerial duties has been crucial in guiding the little-known side from Moletjie Kgabo Park village in Polokwane to the bright lights of the DStv Premiership inside 15 months.
Larsen impressively transformed Magesi from relegation candidates to a championship side.
Magesi confirmed their place in the top-flight for the 2024/25 campaign after seeing off struggling Milford FC by 3-1 at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Limpopo on Sunday.
The victory saw Magesi attain an unassailable 55-point lead at the top of the table, as they moved eight points clear of second-placed University of Pretoria (Tuks).
At the beginning of the season, Magesi were not mentioned among the teams tipped to join the big boys in the top tier from the Motsepe Foundation Championship (MFC).
Many would’ve chosen instead well-established teams such as Maritzburg United and Marumo Gallants, who were both relegated from the first tier of South African football last season, alongside other renowned names such as Tuks and Baroka FC to have a better chance of automatic promotion.
Despite this, Magesi defied the odds to clinch automatic promotion with two games to spare.
The astonishing achievement is an impressive turnaround for a team that last season finished a mere three spots above the relegation zone.
📢 PROMOTED 📢
— Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) May 5, 2024
Congratulations to @Magesi_FC , the 2023/24 #MotsepeFoundationChampionship CHAMPIONS!! 🏆👏🏾 🎉🎊
The #DStvPrem beckons for them in the upcoming 2024/25 season. pic.twitter.com/zDi6CqzzMD
“I knew that if I brought the right players in, and I had a lot of players who wanted to play for me, I could put together a solid team and that’s what we’ve done,” a proud Larsen told Hollywoodbets Sports.
“Not many knew this team (because it’s been back in the professional ranks for two years after the initial stint in 2016) and there are teams like JDR (Stars) and Tuks that have been trying to gain promotion for a long time.
“So, to do it in the space of 15 months with this team, it’s an achievement I’m very proud of.
“I joined in (January) 2022, I think it was 13 games to go or halfway through the season.
“I spent half-season last season, so it’s been one and a half-season with the team.”
Larsen is a coach with vast managerial experience in the Premier Soccer League ranks, having led household names such as Maritzburg, Golden Arrows, Chippa United, Polokwane City and Bloemfontein Celtic who he led to the Telkom Knockout (now Carling Knockout Cup) during the 2012/13 campaign.
🔴 Welcome back to PREMIERSHIP football Coach Clinton Larsen and with his Team Magesi FC!!! 🔴
— robertmarawa (@robertmarawa) May 5, 2024
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 pic.twitter.com/HmSZ2oP4oE
The former Orlando Pirates and Manning Rangers midfielder said working without interference from the club’s hierarchy made his job easier.
“This has been achieved with a lot of planning and organisation within the club’s structures, and some outstanding recruitment,” Larsen added.
“There have been a lot of contributing factors, but also, the credit must go to my players because they bought into my coaching philosophy from day one.
“I’ve got a very good group of players who are hungry to improve, and the technical team also played a big part, my goalkeeper coach, my physio, my assistant coaches.
“They all contributed to the success of the team.”
Larsen’s team boasts forgotten Premier Soccer League stars such as Deolin Mekoa, Rhulani Manzini, Diamond Thopola, Samuel Darpoh, Lesego Sebetlela, Elvis Chipezeze and others.
Larsen went on to thank club chairman Solly Makhubela alongside CEO John Mathibe for their professionalism in running the club.
“But mostly my chairman and my CEO, I’ve never been at a club where they’ve allowed me 100% control of the team and football-related matters. Whether it is recruitment or running the team, they’ve given me the licence to do it my way,” Larsen said.
“I appreciate that, and I think their faith and trust in me has paid off.
“Both are businessmen and their leadership and stability in the team (are great), they must get credit for that.
“I have been with this team for 15 months and never once there was a day where players have been paid later or short, which is always in the media with other teams.
“That allows me as a coach to do what I came here to do, to coach and not worry about the politics of football. I want to thank them for that kind of leadership.”
