Magesi coach Clinton Larsen has highlighted some of the challenges his side has faced in the ongoing transfer window as they look to bolster their squad ahead of their debut season in the top-flight division. 

The Moletsi-based outfit gained promotion to the Betway Premiership after clinching the 2023/24 Motsepe Foundation Championship title with two matches to spare and accumulating a total of 57 points throughout the whole season. The early promotion confirmation left Larsen optimistic for life in the elite league, with the Durban-born mentor previously explaining that it would give the club ample time to strengthen the squad and assemble a side that can compete at the highest level. 

The promotion was quickly followed up by a list of potential recruits as confirmed by Larsen back in May. However, the Magesi FC coach has now revealed that due to financial difficulties, most deals for the players he targeted didn’t get over the line. 

“I think when it comes to that wish list, I probably didn’t get 90 percent of the players I had [on the list], ” said Larsen. 

“This is purely just because we’ve got budget constraints within our club, and I have to adhere to those as a coach.”

Despite not being able to acquire several of his targets, the 53-year-old coach says the players that have been brought into the club are good enough to compete in the top-flight division, but admits he missed out on his first-choices due to the financial status of the club. 

“I tried to find players that fitted into that budget cap that we’ve got as a club and unfortunately, I missed out on a lot of targets that I had, ” he said. 

“But I’m not one to make excuses. I believe the players we did eventually get are good enough to compete at this level.” 

Larsen went on to dismiss speculations linking Dikwena tša Meetse to former Bafana international May Mahlangu and Sammy Seabi, who’s reportedly in talks with Mamelodi Sundowns over a permanent exit from the club. 

“Nothing that I know about, you know those are probably two of the dozens of players that have been linked to the club, ” he stated. 

“So, for me, like I’ve just explained, it’s very difficult to bring players of that caliber on board, merely because we have salary caps that as a club, we just aren’t in a position to pay salaries that these players demand, ” reiterated Larsen. 

The Betway Premiership newcomers have bolstered their squad with 12 new signings including Tumelo Njoti, Delano Abrahams, Tshepo Kakora, Limbikani Mzava, Lebogang Mabotja, Kgaogelo Sekgota, and Gift Motupa. 

Magesi will kickstart their 2024/25 campaign with a Limpopo derby against Sekhukhune United on 18 September, before hosting another Limpopo rival Polokwane City on 21 September in their second league match of the season.

Article by Trevor Magoro