September 5, 2025 • 5 mins
Sunday's Chatham Cup football final in Auckland will feature Wellington Olympic seeking back-to-back titles when meeting Auckland United.
Olympic coach Paul Ifill is seeking his third straight crown, having coached Christchurch United to the title in 2023.
Ifill joined Adam Cooper to preview the final.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
From grassroots to gold medals. It's the All Sport Breakfast
with Rutherband and Boon Toyota and King Toyota on us tom.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
ZB eleven to eight saying let's go to the Means
Chatham Cup Final. Now Wellington Olympic looking to go back
to back and they take on Auckland United's as well
tomorrow at North Harbor one o'clock kick off. Paul leifle As,
the Olympic head Coach's with us. Now mine's here, Paul
all sit for this one.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Yeah, I don't think at the start of the season
we didn't thought we were in this position if I'm honest.
We want to defend the central bigginning for a good
Cup run and I think when you get to you
get to sort of the quarter final stage, you start
sort of plotting a path and hoping you might make it.
And it's been some tough games to get here. I
think every round of the Cup we played away which
has been difficult. But boys are bearing to go. A
good week of training. We've had a couple of a
(00:46):
boost with two of the boys have been overseas. Ben
Matter and Justin Gully have been overseas and come back
only last week, but they'll be fit enough to be
in the squad. They're not going to start, but they'll
be fit enough to come in. So a lot of
leadership coming back into the group.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Why did you you thought that at the start of
the season, you didn't think you would be here.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
I just think it's so hard to back up if
you look. I've looked at the list of teams that
have done it, and I think to win it back
to back, the last team was Kashmir Technical I think
about eleven years ago, and it's just really rare. So
I know hard it is. This you know, one off
game against some sides, and you know all these away
games in the Cup, and yeah, it's it's difficult. So
we definitely don't take it for granted here and we
(01:27):
will look to try and try and get it done
and go back to.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Back on the back of Central League and I guess
on the back of that that semi final win and
penalty shootouts a couple of weeks ago to eliminate Eastern Summers.
What kind of shape do you figure field the team's in.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Yeah, the boys were in good shape. There's been a
couple of a couple of injuries, that we've got to monitor.
Jack Henmier Sinclair was touch and go. He's been declared fit,
which is great. John Ty was another one who's been
injured over the last few weeks. He will be on
the bench. So you're just hoping that they get through
the warm up really and if they do, we'll be fine.
But outside that, everybody's sitting there into go.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Scott Basale's been you sort of hero of later, hasn't
he with with penalty shootouts? Obviously that semi final win
but also this time a year ago and that long
winded penalty saga last year to get the crown. How
much you know, well, what's what do you say to him?
A guy like him during the week leading up to
a game like this.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
I think, thankfully he don't need to say much. I see,
he's so experience. You know. I'm definitely biased, but I
think he's just keeping the countryside outside of the pro keepers.
You know. I think if circumstances would differently be playing
pro so with him, he just leave him to it.
I've got the goalkeeper coaching and they've got a really
good relationships, so he knows how to keep himself right.
And I think if it does go to that stage,
(02:41):
I'd rather have him in nets than anybody else. And
I think last year that was what messages the boys.
I said, you know, we're taking the pen, hit the target,
do your job, and just expect the big filler to
save a couple, which which usually did and did the
same in the semifinal. So I'm hopeful we don't get
to that stage. It would be nice if somebody can
win it in the ninety and it is not if
I can.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
But let's see, with such a long season and you
guys are coming straight off the Central League and heating
International league, where in the season do you try and
get the team to peak? Is it in finals like these?
And how do you do that?
Speaker 1 (03:12):
It's really really difficult, and we didn't quite get it
right last year. We kind of were We peeked a
little bit too early, in my opinion, and we were
just on the way back down. We scrambled through in
the final, obviously on pens, and then I think we
both fell in a hole in the National League. But
I think this year we've been pretty smart with when
we've trained, how we've trained, given them extra days off
when they've needed it, again when you've got a kind
(03:33):
of senior group. They're pretty vocal and let us know
how they feel, which is great. So we have that
good relationship where we can do that. And I think
the fact that we've been able to rotate players in
and out. Some of the senior guys have been away
and come back they should be fresh. But I think,
you know, we should be in position where we're kind
of peaking, but we can keep that peak and we
can mole into the international league and see what we
can do there, because we did we weren't good enough
(03:55):
in the national leagu last year.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Yeah, right, and for you, Paul yourself, I mean a
third st eight Chatham Cup final, christ did she United
twenty twenty three, victorious Wellings Olympic last year, as we know, victorious.
So we'd almost feel a bit strange for you not
to be here, wouldn't it.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Yeah, it's kind of foot me and me and Equal
and my assistant who've done all of that together, we're
sort of like, this is quite nice and knowing that
you've got something to look forward to at the end
of each sort of domestic season.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
So again, like I said, we don't take it for quiet.
It's difficult to make any final. It's a real privilege
to be here again, and to win it a third
time actually sounds pretty crazy, so that we'll have a
right go. But if it's someone else's time, is someone
else's time.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
In twenty twenty three with Christi, as you know, that
was penalties as well.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Wasn't it. But I've got a funny record in there
in this cup. So we've won two and as of yet,
we have not scored a goal. All the goals have
been owned goals in two finals and both have Goneton penalties. So,
like I said it, it would be nice to do
it in the ninety and actually score a goal this
time around.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Yeah great? And orcan Uniteds? Have you been able to
do much sort of direct research or analysis on them
and what they might bring to this game?
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Yeah? Look, I've got two assistants e called Quain who
and Taylor hall Jones, and they have been excellent in
their prep. I put them onto it nice and early
as soon as we knew we've got so, you know,
I said, I need to know everything about them, and
they got the presentations ready and presented to the group,
and I just think we're really, really well prepared. You know,
it won't be preparation that lets us down. In my opinion.
(05:24):
If they're better enough on the day than than good luck.
But I think we'll be definitely ready, you know kind
of football, so anything can happen. But I'm sure the
boys are ready to go and well prepped.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Brilliant. Paul Save travels up there and all the best
tomorrow at North Harbors Stadium, Paul Eiffel there well. Exton
looking to go back to back in the Chatham Cup,
kick off at one tomorrow afternoon against Aukland United. For
more from News Talks EDB, listen live on air or online,
and keep our shows with you wherever you go with
our podcasts on IAR Radio
From grassroots to gold medals. It's the All Sport Breakfast
with Rutherband and Boon Toyota and King Toyota on us tom.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
ZB eleven to eight saying let's go to the Means
Chatham Cup Final. Now Wellington Olympic looking to go back
to back and they take on Auckland United's as well
tomorrow at North Harbor one o'clock kick off. Paul leifle As,
the Olympic head Coach's with us. Now mine's here, Paul
all sit for this one.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Yeah, I don't think at the start of the season
we didn't thought we were in this position if I'm honest.
We want to defend the central bigginning for a good
Cup run and I think when you get to you
get to sort of the quarter final stage, you start
sort of plotting a path and hoping you might make it.
And it's been some tough games to get here. I
think every round of the Cup we played away which
has been difficult. But boys are bearing to go. A
good week of training. We've had a couple of a
(00:46):
boost with two of the boys have been overseas. Ben
Matter and Justin Gully have been overseas and come back
only last week, but they'll be fit enough to be
in the squad. They're not going to start, but they'll
be fit enough to come in. So a lot of
leadership coming back into the group.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Why did you you thought that at the start of
the season, you didn't think you would be here.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
I just think it's so hard to back up if
you look. I've looked at the list of teams that
have done it, and I think to win it back
to back, the last team was Kashmir Technical I think
about eleven years ago, and it's just really rare. So
I know hard it is. This you know, one off
game against some sides, and you know all these away
games in the Cup, and yeah, it's it's difficult. So
we definitely don't take it for granted here and we
(01:27):
will look to try and try and get it done
and go back to.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
Back on the back of Central League and I guess
on the back of that that semi final win and
penalty shootouts a couple of weeks ago to eliminate Eastern Summers.
What kind of shape do you figure field the team's in.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Yeah, the boys were in good shape. There's been a
couple of a couple of injuries, that we've got to monitor.
Jack Henmier Sinclair was touch and go. He's been declared fit,
which is great. John Ty was another one who's been
injured over the last few weeks. He will be on
the bench. So you're just hoping that they get through
the warm up really and if they do, we'll be fine.
But outside that, everybody's sitting there into go.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Scott Basale's been you sort of hero of later, hasn't
he with with penalty shootouts? Obviously that semi final win
but also this time a year ago and that long
winded penalty saga last year to get the crown. How
much you know, well, what's what do you say to him?
A guy like him during the week leading up to
a game like this.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
I think, thankfully he don't need to say much. I see,
he's so experience. You know. I'm definitely biased, but I
think he's just keeping the countryside outside of the pro keepers.
You know. I think if circumstances would differently be playing
pro so with him, he just leave him to it.
I've got the goalkeeper coaching and they've got a really
good relationships, so he knows how to keep himself right.
And I think if it does go to that stage,
(02:41):
I'd rather have him in nets than anybody else. And
I think last year that was what messages the boys.
I said, you know, we're taking the pen, hit the target,
do your job, and just expect the big filler to
save a couple, which which usually did and did the
same in the semifinal. So I'm hopeful we don't get
to that stage. It would be nice if somebody can
win it in the ninety and it is not if
I can.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
But let's see, with such a long season and you
guys are coming straight off the Central League and heating
International league, where in the season do you try and
get the team to peak? Is it in finals like these?
And how do you do that?
Speaker 1 (03:12):
It's really really difficult, and we didn't quite get it
right last year. We kind of were We peeked a
little bit too early, in my opinion, and we were
just on the way back down. We scrambled through in
the final, obviously on pens, and then I think we
both fell in a hole in the National League. But
I think this year we've been pretty smart with when
we've trained, how we've trained, given them extra days off
when they've needed it, again when you've got a kind
(03:33):
of senior group. They're pretty vocal and let us know
how they feel, which is great. So we have that
good relationship where we can do that. And I think
the fact that we've been able to rotate players in
and out. Some of the senior guys have been away
and come back they should be fresh. But I think,
you know, we should be in position where we're kind
of peaking, but we can keep that peak and we
can mole into the international league and see what we
can do there, because we did we weren't good enough
(03:55):
in the national leagu last year.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Yeah, right, and for you, Paul yourself, I mean a
third st eight Chatham Cup final, christ did she United
twenty twenty three, victorious Wellings Olympic last year, as we know, victorious.
So we'd almost feel a bit strange for you not
to be here, wouldn't it.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Yeah, it's kind of foot me and me and Equal
and my assistant who've done all of that together, we're
sort of like, this is quite nice and knowing that
you've got something to look forward to at the end
of each sort of domestic season.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
So again, like I said, we don't take it for quiet.
It's difficult to make any final. It's a real privilege
to be here again, and to win it a third
time actually sounds pretty crazy, so that we'll have a
right go. But if it's someone else's time, is someone
else's time.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
In twenty twenty three with Christi, as you know, that
was penalties as well.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Wasn't it. But I've got a funny record in there
in this cup. So we've won two and as of yet,
we have not scored a goal. All the goals have
been owned goals in two finals and both have Goneton penalties. So,
like I said it, it would be nice to do
it in the ninety and actually score a goal this
time around.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Yeah great? And orcan Uniteds? Have you been able to
do much sort of direct research or analysis on them
and what they might bring to this game?
Speaker 1 (05:04):
Yeah? Look, I've got two assistants e called Quain who
and Taylor hall Jones, and they have been excellent in
their prep. I put them onto it nice and early
as soon as we knew we've got so, you know,
I said, I need to know everything about them, and
they got the presentations ready and presented to the group,
and I just think we're really, really well prepared. You know,
it won't be preparation that lets us down. In my opinion.
(05:24):
If they're better enough on the day than than good luck.
But I think we'll be definitely ready, you know kind
of football, so anything can happen. But I'm sure the
boys are ready to go and well prepped.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Brilliant. Paul Save travels up there and all the best
tomorrow at North Harbors Stadium, Paul Eiffel there well. Exton
looking to go back to back in the Chatham Cup,
kick off at one tomorrow afternoon against Aukland United. For
more from News Talks EDB, listen live on air or online,
and keep our shows with you wherever you go with
our podcasts on IAR Radio
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