Mamelodi Sundowns, under the guidance of Manqoba Mngqithi, are preparing for a highly anticipated Carling Knockout final clash against the unfancied Magesi FC at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
The match has been labeled a 'David vs Goliath' encounter, with Sundowns seen as heavy favorites; however, Mngqithi has expressed respect for his opposition, acknowledging the threat Magesi could pose.
Read: Former Sundowns Winger Surfaces At Pirates
"I always have a lot of respect for coaches that have coached at almost all the levels of football. I always have a lot of respect for those coaches because they are not talking about something they don't know. They have experienced it, there are a lot of people that have got so much to say in football but they are so limited because they have not really experienced, practically, to coach in environments that may not have anything to support you - but you still expected to bring the results," he told journalists at the final press conference at Chloorkop.
"And Clinton, as his journey is, probably as close as possible to my journey in football. I think he has coached in almost all the levels in football, LFA football, development, football, SAB League. ABC Motsepe League, NFD, 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 and I am going to this match with a coach that I know is not sitting on his laurels. He's trying to find the best possible solution to deal with what everybody thinks is a favourite. And he's always done very well and I've shared these stories with the players because I want them to know who they are, not playing just any other coach," he explained.
Read: Chiefs Coach: They Will Make Some Mistakes
Despite Larsen's underdog status and a less-than-ideal record against Sundowns—17 losses, 6 wins, and 5 draws in 28 encounters—Mngqithi is cautious - and his concern is justified. Magesi has already shown their capability to upset the giants of South African football, most notably by defeating Orlando Pirates in their own backyard at Orlando Stadium, while claiming a draw against Kaizer Chiefs.
"When he was at Bloemfontein Celtic, I think it was in one of my first seasons, he took us out of the of the MTN8 with five goals because we were too big and we thought we didn't deserve to concede and we went Helter Skelter opened and they scored the first and the second, scored the third. By the time we realised it was 5-0. And it's the same coach that has won this trophy, though it was called Telkom at that time against Sundowns, with a Celtic team of Joel Mogorosi, and those guys, and we know the type of a coach we are playing against, and for me these are usually the most difficult matches.
"I never leave any stone unturned when it comes to these matches because where everybody expects you to win, for me those are the most difficult matches to win because even when you win it's by the way - but when you lose, it's unexpected and that is the most important thing for me when we're playing matches like this and I respect Clinton so much as a coach because I know he may not have as much resources, but with the little bit that he has, he knows what it means to beat a favourite as an underdog, and I've been there many times as well," he said.
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