Clinton Larsen faces defensive challenge after taking charge of Highbury FC

Clinton Larsen has been appointed Highbury FC head coach with the club needing to address a sharp decline in defensive form during the past five matches of the Motsepe Foundation Championship season.

Larsen’s arrival follows Highbury’s decision to part ways with Vusumuzi Vilakazi after 10 matches. The change is the third coaching move in the Championship this season.

Highbury made an encouraging start under Vilakazi, losing only once in their opening five games. They also recorded three clean sheets and conceded just two goals during that period.

Their form and defensive record deteriorated in the next five matches. Highbury won only once, failed to keep a clean sheet in any of those games and allowed nine goals.

Larsen will have the international break to work with the squad and try to strengthen a defence that has become a concern. If the problem is not resolved, it could damage Highbury’s hopes of challenging for promotion to the Betway Premiership.

The club remain within reach of the leading sides despite their recent difficulties. Highbury are eighth in the Championship standings on 15 points, six points behind leaders Cape Town City, with 20 matches still to play.

Larsen left Venda FC after only five matches of the current season, but he has previously guided Magesi FC to promotion. That experience will increase expectations that he can lead the Eastern Cape club into the Betway Premiership.

Highbury will hope the decision to replace Vilakazi with Larsen can produce a turnaround early enough to keep their promotion ambitions alive.