The men's National League Championship Grand Final will be played between Wellington Olympic and Auckland City. We caught up with Wellington Olympic captain Ben Mata, who spoke about the teams long journey to make it back to the final against City, the squads desire to win this time around and more. 

How does it feel to make it back to the National League Championship Grand Final for the second year running?

"This National League final is something we've definitely got in our sights from day one and so to be one step away from achieving the goal that you've had for nearly 12 months is obviously really exciting and the boys are feeling good. You know, we're confident we've had a good run of games and just really want to get in there and take care of business."

Was there a moment before you qualified where you felt you could get back to the final?

"Not really, We took it one game at a time. I mean, the National League this year was very different to what we experienced last year. There was a lot more competition this time around, last year was sort of all City and ourselves running away with it pretty early, this year it's been a lot harder but we strung together some good performances and it's  worked out for us in the end. We had good form at the right time and I think we are deserving finalists "

What was the journey like to get back to the final and how did you support one another?

"We have fantastic individuals that on the field can provide moments of magic. But I'm a firm believer in the saying that football games and trophies aren't won in the 90 minutes, it's a every single day whether it be training whether it's organizing venues for training, whatever it might be just that day to day stuff is really what builds a winning culture and a winning team."

What was your favourite moment with the team from the season? 

"I think there was quite a cool moment going two nill down against the Phoenix in the Central League at home and bringing that one back to three goals to two, so Yeah that was a defining moment for us, going back to back to back as Central League champions, that was a pretty special moment."

"It's one of those games, that reminds you why you play football. You go down and you realize if you lose the game you're probably going to lose the league, so in the second half to come out and the crowd gets behind us and we score and we go on to win, it's the best type of game to be involved in."
 

Credit: Photosport

How excited is the team to play in the National League final?

"we're always confident.It definitely helps having got a win over them a couple of weeks ago. But I mean come Sunday it doesn't really count for a lot, it's a grand final and hese things are won and lost in moments of magic and mistakes."

"So we just have to make sure that we do absolutely everything we can to come away with it. It would be really, really nice to to lift the trophy on Sunday."

As captain how do you help the team prepare ahead of such a big game?

"Every every player is different. Every person is different. So I think understanding who they are and  their football career, their personality and what you think they might need to get up."

"But yeah I like to remind the boys that it's a game of football. We've played thousands of them in our lives and we will play thousands more. It's a massive occasion for sure but at the end of the day, we're going to play the game, not the moment."

What do you think Wellington Olympic bring to the table that might be enough to get you a positive result come the Grand Final?

"The two teams have played against each other so many times now. We know each other and the way we play inside and out. Both teams have probably five or six players that have that X-Factor that can just absolutely turn a game on its head."

"So for us its about allowing the players we have the Kailan Goulds the Hamish Watsons, Gianni Bouzoukis Jack-Henry Sinclairs to be on their game because when they're up for it we have great chances, but like I said, both teams both teams have that quality but hopefully that moment of magic falls our way. We're confident that if we create our own luck and put ourselves in good positions, good things will happen." 

The men's National League Championship Grand Final kicks off at 1pm. 

Sunday Novermber 26, at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart. get your tickets here: https://premier.ticketek.co.nz/shows/show.aspx?sh=NZFNLC23

Stream the men's National League Grand Final Live and Free on FIFA+ at https://www.plus.fifa.com/en/content/auckland-city-v-wellington-olympic-national-league-championship-final-mens-live-stream/0fc05328-0dd3-4aa4-abb3-20a011006176

Article added: Friday 24 November 2023