Magesi FC rode over the underdog tag to cause what was arguably the biggest upset of the season in local football by beating Mamelodi Sundowns in the Carling Knockout final.

The Limpopo outfit beat Masandawana 2-1 to bag their first major trophy just two months after playing their first match in the top-flight.

Coach Clinton Larsen took what looked like a lightweight squad to face a galaxy of Sundowns stars at Toyota Stadium on Saturday.

According to Transfermarkt, the Brazilians’ squad is valued at R640 million while Magesi’s is a distant R27 million, highlighting a huge gulf in class between the two clubs.

“This felt like playing Bafana Bafana,” said Larsen after Saturday’s triumph.

Sundowns had eight players in the Bafana Bafana squad during the recent 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers while Larsen’s side has no international players.

“And this group I’ve got, six of my starters have six games in the PSL,” Larsen added.

“So in terms of the collective experience, we are very low in that department.”

“I think this probably ranks right up there with my best achievements as a coach, 21 years of coaching.”

On their way to the Carling Knockout final, Magesi had already carved themselves a reputation of being giant killers after eliminating Orlando Pirates in the last-16 stage.

This was not the first time for Larsen to beat Sundowns in a Cup final after he guided Bloemfontein Celtic to victory over Masandawana in the 2012 Carling Knockout when it was still known as the Telkom Knockout Cup.

Pictured above: Magesi FC forward Edmore Chirambadare leaves Mamelodi Sundowns defender Khuliso Mudau sprawling on the ground

Source: Magesi FC