Carling Knockout holders Magesi have appointed Papi Zothwane as their new coach to replace Clinton Larsen.  

Larsen abruptly resigned after Magesi lost 3-0 to the Carling All-Stars team on TV at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.  

“Papi Zothwane has been appointed head coach on an interim basis. He will be assisted by coach Jacky Ledwaba,” the club announced on X.

Larsen’s resignation was not entirely unexpected, given the challenges he faced at the club. Sportswire was informed that he had been working without adequate resources, including a video analyst, and often encountered logistical difficulties, such as the team arriving on the day of the match.

Before the Carling Knockout Cup final against Mamelodi Sundowns, Larsen reportedly requested that players travel two days prior to the game to familiarize themselves with the venue. However, this request was not granted.

Furthermore, some players who were not selected for the match were required to travel at 5:00 AM on the day of the game to Polokwane and return immediately after, a situation that reportedly displeased Larsen.

Since their historic victory over Sundowns in the Carling Knockout final, Magesi have suffered four consecutive defeats across all competitions, leaving them languishing at the bottom of the table with only six points from nine matches.

Zothwane’s first match in charge will be a crucial encounter against Orlando Pirates in Polokwane on 29 December.