With debates on which Mamelodi Sundowns team is fearsome after the departure of Rulani Mokwena, Magesi head coach Clinton Larsen has had his say.
There are suggestions from some quarters that the current Sundowns team under Manqoba Mngqithi does not put fear in the opposition prior to games and that it has lost an element of invincibility, since the departure of Mokwena.
The Brazilians under Mngqithi, so far this season, appeared to give opposition hope that the gap is no longer that big, after they were knocked out of the MTN8 in the semi-finals by Stellenbosch without scoring a goal over two legs and in the Betway Premiership slipped to a 1-0 defeat to Polokwane City.
The style of play under Mokwena, of possession football, was applauded even by rival supporters and a change in style of play has created doubt on whether Mngqithi can be successful with his direct approach.
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Ahead of the Carling Knockout final against Sundowns, Larsen believes the current Masandawana team, under the former Golden Arrows coach is more dangerous, as they can hurt opposition from different angles.
"With this Sundowns team and credit to Manqoba Mngqithi for the subtle changes he has brought to the way they play. Previously they were very predictable in terms of possession," Larsen said on SoccerBeat YouTube Channel.
"But this new Sundowns team can hurt you with long balls, I've never seen a Sundowns team play so many balls behind the opposition defence. Why? They've got the likes of [Iqraam] Rayners, [Tashreeq] Matthews, [Aubrey] Modiba, [Thapelo] Morena, [Peter] Shalulile, these type of players who are willing also to attack space.
"Unlike previously, where everything went to feet. So they've come with a different dimension now, so they are more of a rounded team. They can still keep the possession but they can still play in the moment. If a route one ball is on, they will play it, unlike before, so this makes them more dangerous," the former Bloemfontein Celtic coach concluded.
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Sundowns supporters in the final would not care how they win, as long as the team lifts the trophy.
However, Mngqithi would be under serious pressure if he does not return from Free State with a trophy, as comparisons with Mokwena, even though under the 37-year-old coach the Tshwane giants were knocked out of this tournament in the first round, would not go away.
