Carling Knockout Cup final preview: Magesi ready for Mamelodi Sundowns test

Magesi face the toughest test of their first season in the South African top-flight with a Carling Knockout Cup final clash against Mamelodi Sundowns.

Clinton Larsen guided Magesi to the Betway Premiership for the current campaign.

The club have managed to secure some positive results in the league, with one win, three draws and two losses from their opening six games to sit in 11th place on the standings.

But it is in the Carling Knockout Cup where the club have shined, beating Orlando Pirates, Sekhukhune United and Richards Bay to secure their final spot.

Sundowns, meanwhile, are predictably at the other end of the spectrum, having won the last seven Premiership titles, while currently sitting in second place with six wins from seven games and one loss.

They managed to beat Golden Arrows, Kaizer Chiefs and Marumo Gallants during their cup campaign.

While Sundowns boss Manqoba Mngqithi has warned his side not to underestimate Magesi, Larsen says his team are ready for the challenge of Sundowns.

Mngqithi told a pre-match press conference: “Clinton (Larsen) his journey is probably as close as possible to my journey in football.

“I think he has coached in almost all the levels of football NFA football, development football, SAB League, ABC Motsepe League, NFD (Motsepe Championship), and all these levels.

“And when he talks, I think I always listen because I know it’s coming from not just knowledge but wisdom. So, I have a lot of respect for that.”

Larsen added on SABC Sport: “When you talk about the mood, coming off a win [over Richards Bay] – even though there’s been a two-week break, it always creates an air of positivity around the club.

“So that’s been the case, after our win against Richards Bay, the spirit has been good, we’ve managed to rest the players a bit, and then focus on this week’s preparations for Sundowns and looking at our match strategy.

“But, in terms of the mood, the players are very happy and look relaxed, even though there may be some nerves, some anxiousness, which is normal because 90 per cent of these boys have never played in a game of this magnitude.”