The magic of the cup will be in the air on Saturday on the Limestone Coast, as Naracoorte United welcomes State League One outfit, Adelaide Omonia Cobras in the Australia Cup Qualifying Rounds in a true David v Goliath encounter.
The Australia Cup is a popular competition amongst football faithful as it is no stranger to a ‘cupset’ result, whilst showcasing local club culture, everyday hero stories amongst players, club volunteers, and mascots, and pitch-side cuisine. There is something about the competition that motivates the local community and neutrals alike to get behind the underdog story and that is the energy that Naracoorte will be wanting to take into this weekend’s clash in what will be their biggest match since forming in 1968.
Club captain Andrew Munro, a family farmer by trade, will be hoping his side can produce some ‘sheer class’ on Saturday and is certainly up for the challenge.
“I’m excited to see our level in comparison to a State League One team. Having a smaller league in the Limestone Coast, we are really excited to play a different opponent. For a lot of us, this will be the biggest team we have played against so it’s going to be a good challenge!”
Andrew, who has played for the club for a decade, says the standards are growing within the camp.
“We are a multicultural club that brings together the people of Naracoorte. After missing out on senior finals for many years we have made the finals three years in a row. Our reserves won the premiership last year and to keep progressing the club we made the decision to play in the Australia Cup.”
There is no doubt the task is a huge one, with a mountain of talent in the Adelaide Omonia Cobras camp which includes RAA NPLSA former winners Luigi Ditroia, Perry Mitris & Jake Monaco, with the experience of Jack Bladen, Dylan Pickert and Jordan Pudler, with all six of those, have played for the Adelaide United Youth side.
Club President, and 2019 Football SA Volunteer of the Year, Jon Thurlow, is calling on the community to come together and enjoy the ‘magic’ of the cup.
“This game is an opportunity for our players to play a team outside our association that plays at a high standard and to see a level of soccer we don’t get to experience and for our juniors to see what’s possible if you work and train hard.”
Thurlow added:
“Our message to the soccer community is simple: come and get involved. Whatever happens on Saturday, I’m sure everyone will have a great time, enjoy themselves and make some new friends.”
The visitors will be making the four-hour trip and staying overnight on Friday. 2014 RAANPLSA Golden Boot winner, Perry Mitris, is respectfully wary of the task ahead and is excited about what the game can bring to the Limestone Coast community.
“I think the biggest challenge will be that we don’t know what to expect. These types of games are always dangerous and a recipe for an upset. One thing we can be sure of is that we are not going there to lose.”
“Without knowing too much about the Limestone Coast, I think the fact that Naracoorte United are participating in the Australia Cup can bring good things for the game there. We certainly hope we can do our part to promote the game in all of the regional areas across the state.”
The Naracoorte United v Adelaide Omonia Cobras fixture is the meat in the sandwich of a huge weekend of 14 Australia Cup South Australia Round 3 games spanning across Friday, Saturday and Sunday. All participants will be hoping to get through to the next round to be a step closer to participating in the Australia Cup competition on a national level.
