Clinton Larsen: Why I joined Bizana Pondo Chiefs

Following Polokwane City's relegation from the DStv Premiership last season, Larsen turned down an offer to go down with Rise Shine to the first division.

But the Durban-born mentor surprised many people when he was announced as Pondo Chiefs' new coach on Wednesday.

The former Orlando Pirates winger now reveals to snl24.com/kickoff why he chose to move to a team rooted to the bottom of the GladAfrica Championship table.

"I basically got a call from the chairman [Nkosinathi Mqokiyane] and I've known him for a very, very long time you know, we've been friends before he even got into football in the ABC Motsepe," Larsen explains.

"They say a friend in need is a friend indeed. I've been at home and the club is in Durban, so I decided ja let me try and help him, he's in a situation where he needs help. So I will try and help him ja.

"Like I said to you, I got an offer from the PSL which I declined. You know my mother is not well at the moment so I've been focusing on that. So he phoned me recently to find out if I'm still around, I said yes. I've decided to stay in Durban closer to my family, especially with my mom being so ill.

Gordon Igesund - He has dedicated his time to growing his football academy in Cape Town, where he is nurturing youngsters, but plans to return to the PSL next season.

Fani Madida - Last time we heard of him, he was focused on his Didiza24 Foundation.

Mike Makaab - CEO and football agent Pro Sport International.

Roger de Sa – Part-owner at GladAfrica Championship side Cape Umoya United.

Simon Ngomane - Football analyst at SABC Radio station Ligwalagwala FM.

Augusto Palacios - Owner of the Augusto Palacios Apprentice Academy, and also the head of development at Orlando Pirates.

Neil Tovey - He was the technical director at SAFA up until recently, but is now at home in Durban resting.

Clive Barker - His last top job was at Maritzburg United in the 2015/16 season.

Khabo Zondo - Currently unattached following Nedbank's decision to stop sponsoring the Keyona Team where he was one of the coaches.

Innocent Mayoyo - The former Mpumalanga Black Aces coach's focus nowadays is on his football academy called Ayoba-yo Youth Soccer Academy.

Shane McGregor - The former Pretoria City (SuperSport United) coach is currently sitting at home unemployed after betting company Phumelele retrenched him.

Mich D'Avray - Left Ajax Cape Town in 2018 and last known to be in Australia working with Rob Moore.

Mlungisi Ngubane - Currently focused on his own Football Academy which falls under his Foundation, Mlungisi Ngubane Foundation.

Tony De Nobrega - He is currently helping in running the Vasco Da Gama under 7 team

"I think everyone can see the team is in big trouble, so ja I will try my best to help them. At the moment the team is relegated, I need to change that. If the league stops tomorrow the team is relegated. So I'm going to try to help him save the team. That's all I can do.

"There's no mandate from anybody. Only a fool will give a mandate when the writing is on the wall. When you look at the stats, the team is not scoring goals – 11 goals in 18 games is not good enough, that's why they are at the bottom of the table. So I need to change that."

Larsen was asked if he thought coaching in the second tier was a downgrade for him, especially after turning down a similar opportunity at Polokwane City.

"I've coached in the NFD before, this is where I started. Other coaches have coached in the NFD, Roger de Sa... I can count a lot of coaches who coached in the PSL and ended up coaching in the NFD so I don't really worry about what people say," he reasons.

"I follow my heart and if my heart wants to take me to ABC Motsepe, that's what I'll do. At this stage I didn't want to leave the family with the situation so I decided to stay at home, then this opportunity came."

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