Sowetan

Rise of local coaches extolled

WE HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO SUCCEED, LARSEN PROCLAIMS

- Mogomotsi Selebi selebim@sowetan.co.za

FOR the first time in a long time, all of the country’s well supported football clubs will be coached by locals and no one was happier that Clinton Larsen.

The Bloemfonte­in Celtic coach

said local coaches have, for the

past few years, proven that they have what it takes to be in charge of the country ’ s biggest sides.

Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs,

Mamelodi Sundowns as well as

Celtic, all of whom command mas-

sive support, will be coached by locals in the upcoming season and

“about time ” .

Larsen agreed it was

Speaking after his side were

humiliated 3-0 by Mpumalanga

Black Aces in the semifinals of

Maize Triangle Challenge at Moru-

leng Stadium on Saturday, Larsen

said he was looking forward to pit-

ting his wits against

his opponents.

“It is very exciting that all the

big clubs will be coached by locals.

I think in the last five or 10 years,

the local coaches have proven that they have what it takes to coach at the highest level, ”

Larsen said.

He said they can compete with their internatio­nal counterpar­ts.

“We are not inferior as locals.

We have what it takes and are

tactically very sound in the game. ”

Celtic will lock horns with Sun-

downs in the quarterfin­als of the

MTN8 in a few weeks, and Larsen

said he could not have asked for a better start to the season.

“We are only in our third week

of pre-season and everthing is

going accordingl­y in the camp. We are going to play Sundowns soon and we can ’ t choose our opponents

but the match will be very good for us. It will be a very good barometer of how far we are, ”

said.

Larsen

 ??  ?? CUP FEVER: Platinum Stars savour their victory in the 2015 Bokone Bophirima Maize Triangle Challenge at the Moruleng Stadium in North West on Saturday
CUP FEVER: Platinum Stars savour their victory in the 2015 Bokone Bophirima Maize Triangle Challenge at the Moruleng Stadium in North West on Saturday

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from South Africa