Maduka Deflects Pressure To Retain Carling Knockout Cup

Newly appointed Magesi FC coach John Maduka has downplayed the pressure to defend the club’s first-ever major trophy in the South African top-flight, the Carling Knockout Cup, ahead of the upcoming 2025/26 season.

The Limpopo-based outfit shocked Mamelodi Sundowns with a last-gasp winner from Delano Abrahams to reign supreme in the competition. Before ousting the Tshwane giants in the final, Magesi knocked out Orlando Pirates in the round of 16.

As a result, Dikwena Tsa Meetse became the first-ever newly promoted side to clinch the League Cup in PSL history. In addition, Magesi successfully beat the drop following an indifferent start to their debut campaign in the elite league.

With the club having made its presence felt in the first tier, Maduka, who succeeded Owen Da Gama, acknowledges and echoes the ambition within the Magesi camp but insists there is no added pressure on his shoulders due to the team’s cup final heroics against Masandawana.

“This is an ambitious team, and I’m also one of the coaches who is ambitious; we always want to win in every game we play. So, the pressure will always be there, whether you win or lose, the pressure will always be there,” the former Royal AM mentor said.

“It’s part of our job as the technical team, and the coaches can attest to that. Pressure is part of our job. But it’s always good for the coaches to have ambition, the team also has ambition to try and win things, and there’s no difference even now.” 

Although he is adamant the team’s cup glory doesn’t put him on the backfoot, the 54-year-old experienced Malawian tactician admits pressure is part of the job and is ready to assume the responsibility to guide Magesi to more silverware.

“Yes, the pressure will always be there, but we are a very ambitious team that wants to compete, we are an ambitious team that wants to win things,” added Maduka, who is s