And then there were two.
After weeks of football action and passion on the pitch, it’s time for a team to emerge as the victor. Two indomitable forces will clash for a final showdown.
Arete are going into their first final and looking to be crowned champions.
Epimelis are going into their second consecutive final, and are hoping to retain their crown from last year.
It’s quite literally all to play for.
In anticipation of this showdown, we conducted an interview with coaches of both sides to gauge where they heads are at.
ARETE
Arete’s coach, Dean, analyzes his team’s preparation and how far they have come. Let’s take a deep dive.
This is your first final in the history of this tournament, how does it feel?
I’m gingered honestly
My boys are really gingered
Keeping the final 2 weeks after the semi final is like starving them for 2 weeksAfter working through the earlier rounds and seeing how competitive this tournament has been, making it to the first final is a mix of pride and relief.Pride because it shows the preparation and effort actually paid off, and relief because you finally get a chance to play for everything.
We didn’t get here to just show up
What challenges did your team overcome to reach this stage?
Getting here wasn’t smooth we had to work for every step.
1. Momentum swings: Against Ariste we conceded a goal after taking the early lead. Momentum shifted to their side and had to win under pressure.
2. Adapting to different styles and dropping players:Each opponent played differently some pressed high, some sat deep. We had to adjust our approach game by game instead of sticking to one plan.Which had to make some decisions in the starting lineup too which wasn’t an easy one.
The biggest thing was learning to handle setbacks without letting them break our focus. Once the team started trusting each other to cover those gaps, everything clicked.
The game seems like a derby, what do you think about your opponents in the final?
It definitely has that derby feel we know each other well and there’s history on the pitch.
Last competition we lost to them in the semi final with a last minute goal.They’re a tough, organized side with quality in key areas.
We respect what they have done to get here, what they have done in the past but in a final it comes down to who handles the moment better. Looking forward to a competitive game.
Some of your players have been nominated as best player of the tournament. Who do you think will win this award?
That’s tough for me…. i would have said all my players should be nominated because of what they give on the pitch.we have got players who have stepped up when it mattered. If I’m being honest, I’d love to see one of our guys take it.
Farad: we can’t underestimate the kilometers he covers on the pitch. I personally can’t estimate the heatmao again. The 30 yard out free kick he scored to put the team in front against ariste.
Gbotemi: my captain, scored a goal to break the deadlock in a tight game. Coordinate the defense and covered alot of kilometers in helping the defense.
Mr. BOND: A complete winger and attacking Midfielder. Scored the winning goal against Ariste. Supportive in high press and defense. And a lot of my players.You can’t underestimate the quality of these guys. They deserve to win it.
What should fans expect from your team in the final?
Intensity, fight, and attacking football. We’re coming to play our game and leave everything on the pitch.
Thank you for your time.Good luck!
EPIMELIS
Epimelis’ coach, HIM, keeps it brief. Let’s see what he had to say.
You’re heading into your second consecutive final, how does that feel for the team?
Feels very normal at this point to reach the finals. It’s nothing really special to us.
Can you rate your team’s performance so far in the tournament?
We’ve been decent, and we are where we are today. That’s all that matters.
You barely defeated Evgenis, with both face offs ending with a penalty shoot out. Does that affect your confidence level?
Our confidence is what has brought us to this level
What message do you have your supporters ahead of the final?
Same as before: “Nothing special… We’ll see how it plays out.”
What challenges does your team overcome to reach this stage?
Challenges??? None I can think of.
Thank you for your time. Good luck!
Let’s see who comes on top in this showdown.
OSUMSA NEWS AGENCY 📸
