LIMESTONE Coast soccer will once again be treated to a battle between International and Apollo, when the two clubs’ senior teams go head-to-head in the 2018 Belgiorno Cup grand final.
Played at Blue Lake Soccer Club on White Avenue, this clash will give both sides the chance to flex their muscles one last time before the premiership season begins next weekend.
With last year’s cup seeing the same match-up, spectators can expect another high-intensity game, as Apollo will be eager to redeem itself from the 6-4 loss it suffered to Inter in 2017.
Limestone Coast Football League chief executive officer Eric Nieto believes each of the clubs represented in Sunday’s finals are raring to go and will be ready to give their all on game day.
“I think the clubs are pretty well prepared this year,” he said.
“The fact we have five teams representing the grand finals is great.
“Usually its pretty much a run away between the bigger clubs, but this time Blue Lake and Naracoorte have shaped up and they have teams in the finals.”
With the goal for the league to have all its clubs at a relatively even level, this is a positive sign for the season ahead.
But in the A Grade it is once again a meeting between Inter and Apollo, which is sure to be another spectacle for those in attendance.
“It’s always a close game,” Nieto said.
“It’s just the unknown when those two play.
“They have played each other around 20 times in the last five years and International has had the upper hand but this is a new year.
“It is a grand final, so may the best team win.”
In the other games a mix of teams will chase pre-season glory, with five clubs represented across the four minor grades.
“The B Grade is going to be a great final between Naracoorte and Blue Lake,” Nieto said.
“I think Inter and Apollo have dominated most of those finals over the last few years, so it is great to see two new teams.
“It is what we want to see.”
A close contest is expected in the Under 17 final, which will see another Inter and Apollo match-up.
This will be a game which could go either way.
“That will be a really hard game,” Nieto said.
“I think there will be one goal between the winner and runner-up.”
In the Under 14’s Apollo and Blue Lake will lock horns, while the Under 12 final will see Centrals and Inter go head-to-head.
“I think that is going to be another cracker of a game,” Nieto said.
“I do think Centrals has a great (junior) development happening and so has Inter, but I think Centrals will have the edge in that game.”
Last year’s finals were umpired by local referees and Sunday’s games will see the same arrangement, as Nieto said the league has steered away from sourcing officials from outside the Limestone Coast.
“We are having local umpires again this year,” he said.
“We are working very closely with the umpires this year to make sure both parties know exactly what’s going on.
“I think our umpires are getting a lot better.”
The day is set to kick off with the Under 12 match between Inter and Centrals at 8.30am, with the final clash to be the senior game at 2.30pm.
