Clinton Larsen lauds appetite for success as Magesi reach cup final

With goalkeeper and captain Elvis Chipezeze picking up a third straight Man of the Match prize money, it told the story of a team that was under siege from the hosts but still managed to find the winning goal.

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Larsen said Magesi played to their strengths.

''I suppose not the prettiest of semi-finals from both teams. I knew before the game it was going to be a scrappy affair, possibly could be won on one moment or one mistake and it came down to that in the end. I thought in the first half - we are firstly away from home and did not want to concede first and we ticked that box going into the first half. It could have been 2-0 up before they got their first chance, with the ball from Chirambadare to Mekoa and when we missed that, you always get that feeling that this is the opportunity for the opponent to come back into the game. 

As expected the home team threw everything at us but we had to keep them out. I am very happy for the club, the chairman, the supporters and the players. The players we have may not be the most talented group but they have an unbelievable fighting spirit and as a coach I appreciate that,'' said Larsen.

Magesi have achieved this feat by winning matches on the road, and again Larsen praised his squad for embracing his philosophy.

''Yeah, it hasn't been an easy probe to the final, it reminds me of 2012 win with Bloemfontein Celtic - where we played Pirates in the quarters, went away to Free State Stars won 1-0 there in Bethlehem and the Sundowns in the finals, it is a similar run of games, quality oppositions right through.

But there's two things that got us to this point, the one thing is the fighting spirit like I have just mentioned and the second part - which is my job is to get this team organised and the players have bought into the way we want to defend, unbelievable pressing for 90 minutes,'' added  Larsen.

Larsen added that stretching their unbeaten run to seven matches in all competitions is proof their fairytale cup run is no fluke.

''You remind me of the Betway Premiership launch when Thomas asked and said every team that looks at Magesi looks at free three points but we are slowly changing people's mind that we are not that easy to beat. 

Maybe they are comparing us to what happened to Cape Town Spur the other season, maybe that is the reason why people thought that way. But like I said, my job is to try and get this team as organised as possible and to make them as difficult to be beat as possible and I think we are on the right track,'' he expressed.

The Carling Knockout final will be played in Bloemfontein on 23 November, and Larsen says the Toyota Stadium will bring back great memories.