Magesi FC set eyes on another trophy

Magesi F.C. assistant coach Papi Zothwane says the side is determined to create more history in their maiden season in South Africa’s topflight football. The Limpopo-based side is gunning for a second trophy within a short space of time after lifting the Carling Knockout Cup late last month.

Magesi will now face the Carling All Stars Eleven, to add the Carling Black Label Cup to their trophy cabinet. The match will be played on the 23rd of December at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto.

Team of the moment Magesi F.C. are riding the crest of the wave, just a few months after being promoted to the premiership.

They made a big statement when they beat overwhelming favourites Orlando Pirates in their own backyard in the first round of the Carling Knockout Cup. They then went on to overcome perennial premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns in the final on the 23rd of November in Bloemfontein.

Zothwane says they are eyeing a second trophy, the Carling Black Label Cup against the All Stars Eleven, a team selected by the football supporters.

“Already, we made history as a club by just arriving in the league and winning the Carling Knockout. So, can you imagine how it will feel for the team to even win the Carling Cup. So, the approach will be the same in terms of how we approached against the teams like Sundowns, Pirates. When you think of the Carling Cup that is coming, you see an opportunity again,” says Zothwane.

He says despite having already won a trophy in South Africa’s topflight league, their main mission this season is to avoid relegation at the end of the season.

“Definitely, a cup was not our priority. It came as a bonus for us, the main priority for this club is to remain in the Betway Premier League. Obviously, working with coach Clinton, he knows how many points you need for you to be still part of the league. For us, it doesn’t matter where we finish in terms of top eight, as long as we can see ourselves being able to compete for this cup again,” he adds.

Former Bafana Bafana striker Benni McCarthy says the arrival of Magesi F.C. has added a lot of excitement to the Premier League.

“That’s what we want to see in our football, you know, we bring the energy, we bring the excitement and lots of goals and lots of surprises. The underdogs knocking a few big dogs out, that’s what our football is all about. It’s good and now, I’m just hoping that it is not the Carling Black Label competition and then everything dies after that and when the league starts people stop going to the stadiums anymore. We want to fill our stadiums,” says McCarthy.

The rules of the competition stipulate that at least five players in the starting eleven of the All-Stars team should come from the PSL Reserve League teams and players under the age of 23.

McCarthy until recently a forwards coach at Manchester United says the Carling Black Label Cup is helping to unearth more talent in South African football.

“We want to fill our stadiums because our football is on the up, on the rise, Bafana is doing well and the league is far more competitive now than it was before because Pirates is challenging Sundowns from the start. And it’s a good challenge. So, you know, the more this continues, I think the better it will be for our football and the national team,” says McCarthy.

Voting for the players and the coach of the All-Stars team is strictly for local football fans, and it closes in a week’s time.

Last season, the cup was lifted by the All Stars team under the guidance of Pirates coach Jose Riveiro, after they beat Carling Knockout holders Stellenbosch F.C. in Polokwane.