Larsen’s Dynamos living the Cup of Dreams
MANNING Rangers legend Clinton Larsen earned his stripes as a professional player at Chatsworth-based Manning Rangers when the club won the inaugural Premiership title in 1996.
His exploits at the Mighty Maulers saw him move to Soweto giants Orlando Pirates. After hanging up his boots, he took to coaching and has now returned to the sprawling Durban suburb to coach amateur side Summerfield Dynamos.
It is at the Chatsworth-based Dynamos that Larsen is finding his mojo again after taking his men to the quarter-finals of the lucrative Nedbank Cup tournament.
Dynamos’ next clash will be against the mighty Mamelodi Sundowns.
They reached the quarter-finals of the competition following their 1-0 win over Black Eagles in the round of 16 last weekend at the Chatsworth Stadium.
By reaching the quarter-finals, Dynamos also became the first ABC Motsepe League (third tier) side to do so in 11 years.
Sundowns are the best team in South
Africa and among the best in Africa. Masandawana recently inflicted back to back 1-0 defeats on Al Ahly in the CAF Champions League.
Egyptian side Al Ahly, coached by South African Pitso Mosimane, are widely regarded as the greatest club in the history of African football.
Dynamos are banking on Larsen’s experience of coaching in the Premier Soccer League to negotiate their way past Sundowns. Among the Premiership teams he has coached are Golden Arrows and Bloemfontein Celtic.
“The players are not nervous to play against Sundowns. They are excited. The Nedbank Cup is the Cup of Dreams. We will give it our best. After we beat uThongathi, our goalkeeper Bongani Masoga said that he hopes that we get Sundowns. It’s a blessing in disguise,” said Dynamos team manager Terrence Subramoney.
Dynamos will head into their game against Sundowns as underdogs. One advantage they may have is that they will have more time to rest and prepare ahead of the game. Dynamos await their league play-off games in the upcoming months and so will have time to study Sundowns. In contrast, Sundowns have Champions League and domestic league games to negotiate, in addition to the Nedbank Cup.
Since his appointment as coach of the Dynamos in June last year, Larsen has drastically improved their performances by roping in ex-top flight players such as Deolin Mekoa, Samuel Darpoh, Thabo Molefe, Lucky Nguzana and Jabulani Nene.
“These players have been a major factor behind our success. Larsen brought in players that he previously worked with while he was coaching in the top flight and GladAfrica Championship. Some of these players started their careers with him and have followed him. They have also motivated younger players in the squad. The mixture of younger and older players has helped the club to get to where it is now,” said Subramoney.
Subramoney is happy with the local communities’ reaction towards Summerfield.
“Not just Chatsworth but Phoenix, Isipingo, Umlazi and the whole of Durban are abuzz. Some people have taken their supporters’ T-shirts all the way to Ladysmith. The hype is great and we can’t contain it anymore. Too many people are rooting for our success now,” said Subramoney.