I'm not happy about it

Marumo Gallants may have fallen just short in the Carling Knockout Final, but their spirited run to the showpiece at a sold-out Peter Mokaba Stadium reminded many of the club's fighting identity. One of the standout contributors in that journey has been forward Jaisen Clifford, whose impact has come despite limited starts in his debut PSL season. Fresh from the high-intensity match against Orlando Pirates, Clifford had a chat with Soccer Laduma to reflect on the final, the electric atmosphere, his role in the team, his frustrations over game time, and the personal and professional journey that brought him back to South Africa after years abroad. In this interview with Masebe Qina, the 29-year-old attacker opens up about resilience, ambition, and the belief that continues to drive him forward.

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Marumo Gallants may have fallen just short in the Carling Knockout Final, but their spirited run to the showpiece at a sold-out Peter Mokaba Stadium reminded many of the club's fighting identity. One of the standout contributors in that journey has been forward Jaisen Clifford, whose impact has come despite limited starts in his debut PSL season. Fresh from the high-intensity match against Orlando Pirates, Clifford had a chat with Soccer Laduma to reflect on the final, the electric atmosphere, his role in the team, his frustrations over game time, and the personal and professional journey that brought him back to South Africa after years abroad. In this interview with Masebe Qina, the 29-year-old attacker opens up about resilience, ambition, and the belief that continues to drive him forward.

I know I can score, create goals, take on players. I'm a good forward player. Whether I play or don’t play, I'm an employee of Marumo Gallants. When they need me to play, I'll play. That's all I can say.

MQ: What was your impression of the atmosphere inside a sold-out Peter Mokaba Stadium?

JC: You could feel the presence of the Pirates fan base on the pitch. Among players on the field, you're trying to speak, give instructions or information, and you can’t even hear each other. There were moments in the game where even if Pirates weren't really playing, it was purely the energy of the fans that kept them going. I swear, I can’t even explain it, but you can feel it from inside - a certain wave of momentum blowing against you. The atmosphere was electric, crazy, and tough. It helped them, and they won.

MQ: Gallants defended with real discipline and looked set to take the match to penalties, especially given your success in shootouts on the way to the final. Was that part of the strategy going into extra time?