Magesi FC coach Clinton Larsen has drawn a bold comparison, likening their upcoming Carling Knockout final against Mamelodi Sundowns to a match against Bafana Bafana.
The newly-promoted Betway Premiership side will face the mighty Sundowns at the Free State Stadium on Saturday, a historic moment for the Limpopo club.
Having already secured impressive away victories over Orlando Pirates, TS Galaxy, and Richards Bay FC, Magesi are now poised to take on one of the continent’s top teams.
“We are up against a formidable opponent. It feels like we are actually playing the national team,” said Larsen on Wednesday as Magesi continued their preparation to face Sundowns.
“Last night [Tuesday], I watched six starters from the Sundowns team on the national team and a few on the bench. If you look at [ Marcelo] Allende, [Lucas] Ribeiro, and [Peter] Shalulile, had they been South African, they would probably be in the national team too.
“So you are not just playing Sundowns. It’s like you are playing against the national team, and that’s what makes this challenge exciting for the club.”
Furthermore, Larsen dismissed the notion that his side will have a significant advantage over Mamelodi Sundowns in the Carling Knockout final due to Sundowns’ international commitments.
While Sundowns had several key players away on international duty on Tuesday, Magesi were able to focus solely on their preparations for the final. However, Larsen believes that this factor won’t necessarily translate into a significant advantage for his team.
“I disagree 1000 per cent. Sundowns, for the last 10 years, have mastered the art of playing every three days, and they have been winning. So, what’s going to change this time around?
“In terms of the mood, we are very happy. The players looked relaxed even though there might be some nerves and anxiousness, which is normal because 90 per cent of these boys have never played in a game of this magnitude. So it’s normal for them to have a bit of anxiety. But that’s what we are here for coaches and senior players as well.”