Proud Canberra Olympic boss Frank Cachia says his side’s close-knit relationship is the reason behind their incredible run to the Westfield FFA Cup semi-finals.
A 10-man Olympic confirmed themselves as this year’s fairytale story, making the last four after Tuesday night’s last-ditch 1-0 quarter-final win over Green Gully.
FFA Cup drama! Canberra Olympic keeper's late winner
They did it the hard way after Adam Rogic was sent off early in the second half before skipper and keeper Angelo Konstantinou became the hero with his 95th minute penalty.
And Cachia says there’s no secret to why the club has tasted so much success in 2016, winning all three trophies on offer in the ACT.
“They are a bunch of mates. When we bought this team together a couple of years ago we picked boys that had good connections with other players,” the Olympic coach told Fox Sports.
“It’s built around friendship and they are a really close-knit group. We’ve really forged a culture here and it’s a very accepting and accommodating culture.
“Anyone that comes in is really a friend as well as a team-mate and you can see it.
“Even when Adam [Rogic] got sent off, they stuck to their guns and they didn’t give up. We’ve gone three games in the FFA Cup without conceding yet.”
Olympic have seen off Surfers Paradise Apollo, Redlands United and now Green Gully to make the semis, with Hyundai A-League powerhouses Sydney FC their next opponents.
Asked about that match-up, Cachia said with a smile: “I think [our players] will fancy themselves.
“Look, they [Sydney FC] are not A-League for nothing. We’ll give it our best shot and if we play with the same fortitude and bravery we did tonight then the players will give a good account of themselves and they’ll do the club proud.
“You can dream about it all you like but I don’t think anyone thought we would get as far as we have.
“Winning a treble here in Canberra and doing what we did here [against Green Gully], it’s just unbelievable.”
