Premier Soccer League newbies Magesi FC will be facing Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday in the Carling Knockout final hoping to cause a major upset.
En route to the final, Dikwena tsa Meetse managed to get past Orlando Pirates, TS Galaxy, and Richards Bay while Masandawana beat Golden Arrows, Kaizer Chiefs, and Marumo Gallants to make the last hurdle.
While Magesi have had enough time to prepare for the fixture, the Brazilians had a good number of their players representing their respective nations in the almost-ending international break.
Advantage Magesi?
However, Magesi coach Clinton Larsen insists there is no advantage to his team since the PSL champions are already used to playing many games in a short time.
“I disagree 1000% [that Magesi have a slight advantage],” The 53-year-old told iDiski Times ahead of the game.
“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?”
It is like playing the national team
The former Orlando Pirates player conceded it is a hard task beating Sundowns but nothing is impossible.
“We’ll go into this game with the same positivity that anything can happen,” the former midfielder continued.
“You know we are up against a formidable opponent. It feels like we are actually playing the national team because last night I watched six starters from Sundowns in 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’d have probably been 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 all the more exciting for us as a club,” he concluded.
The final will be played at Free State Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein.
