While Sundowns enter the clash as firm favourites, Magesi FC have proven their mettle by eliminating Orlando Pirates and the tricky TS Galaxy on their way to the final.

Magesi is coached by Clinton Larsen, a former Bafana Bafana midfielder and ex-Bloemfontein Celtic manager. Larsen famously guided Celtic to a title in 2012 with a 1-0 win against Sundowns in the final at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

Mngqithi expressed his admiration for Larsen, emphasising the wealth of experience he has gained throughout his career. “I have a lot of respect for coaches who have worked on every level of football,” Mngqithi said.

“They’re not talking about something they don’t know – they’ve experienced it firsthand. Many people have opinions about football, but few have faced the challenges of coaching in environments with minimal resources while still being expected to deliver results.”

He continued: “Clinton’s journey is very similar to mine. He has coached at almost every level of football, and when he speaks, it’s not just knowledge – it’s wisdom. I truly respect that.”

Mngqithi also acknowledged Larsen’s history of success against Sundowns, especially in cup competitions, highlighting the challenges his team will face.

Iqraam Rayners. Photo: Morgan Piek

“I’m going into this match against a coach who is always searching for solutions to counter what many see as the favourites,” he said. “I’ve reminded my players that they’re not playing just any coach. When he was at Bloemfontein Celtic, he knocked us out of the MTN8 with five goals. We underestimated him, and before we knew it, we were down 5-0.

“This is the same coach who won this competition, back when it was called the Telkom Knockout Cup, with a Celtic team that included Joel Mogorosi and others. Matches like these are the toughest because when everyone expects you to win, it becomes the hardest challenge. I leave no stone unturned in preparation for games like this.”

The Carling Knockout Cup final between Sundowns and Magesi FC takes place on Saturday at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, with kick-off at 18:00.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cg/mvh