‘We’ve got nothing to lose’, says The Magic FC’s Dearnaley
Bafana stars the guiding hands behind youthful Cape Town team hoping to pull a rabbit out of Cup hat
FRONTEDby two football heavyweights in former Bafana Bafana strikers George Dearnaley and Gerald Stober, The Magic FC are under no illusions about their chances in the last 32 of the Nedbank Cup.
They are up against Premier Soccer League (PSL) side Platinum Stars in Rustenburg on Sunday afternoon (kick-off 3pm).
The Second Division club, based in Pinelands, won through to this stage of the competition during the lower-tier qualifying rounds – and there is a real buzz and excitement in their young squad, many of whom have never travelled on a plane before, or even had the opportunity to play at a big stadium like the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace.
While The Magic are fully aware of their limitations, they nevertheless want to go out there and do their best, and use the opportunity to place this unusually-named football club on the sporting map.
Dearnaley is the club owner and Stober the head coach.
An ebullient go-getter and an avid football enthusiast, Dearnaley came to prominence at AmaZulu before coming down to the Mother City to play for Hellenic and Seven Stars. He bought the Old Mutual Second Division franchise in 2012, keen to develop a football club of substance, something special.
Initially, the team played as Old Mutual, but the name proved to be a bit of an albatross, a burden that prevented them from attracting sponsorship. Corporates were under the impression that they were backed by the insurance company, when, in fact, they weren’t. And when Dearnaley presented a case for sponsorship to Old Mutual, he was turned down.
Hence, the only way to go was a name change – and, in that way, hope that potential backers would come on board.
In keeping with 45-year-old Dearnaley’s marketing and promotion instincts, a field he has always been active in since retiring from the game, he latched on to the name The Magic – and, of course, everything associated with the word.
“I think,” said Dearnaley, “that the name explains who we are and what we stand for. It’s about young players with big dreams, who are keen to create some magic.
“Our desire is to develop young talent and provide a platform for footballers to aspire to a career in the professional game. It’s about dreams... and, so, it’s about magic.”
Stober, also 45 years old now, was a goalscoring legend during his playing days at Santos and Hellenic. He’s seen and done it all in the domestic game and he aptly articulated his team’s chances on Saturday: “If we go there and beat Platinum Stars, then there is something seriously wrong with South African football. In terms of experience and big game temperament, we shouldn’t be on the same field as them.
“The odds are heavily stacked against us. And that is why the objective is just for the players to go there and enjoy themselves, enjoy the occasion.”
Dearnaley agreed: “Look, we aren’t going to win the competition, but the experience gained by these young players will be vital to their maturity. We’ve got nothing to lose. So it doesn’t really matter what happens against Platinum, the bigger picture is more important. And that is about our long-term philosophy in the development of young talent.”