Kalgoorlie College’s successful year has ended with two Goldfields Soccer Association grand final wins on the weekend.
Both College men’s teams went back-to-back during the grand final weekend, complementing their two 2022 Knock-Out Cup wins earlier in the year.
The A-grade men topped Boulder in a tight 2-1 match, with Victoire Mwenyamali and season fairest and best Saxon Epis-Brown both scoring for the Blues.
College had a more convincing win in the B-grade decider, which saw them best Twin City 5-1, with the season’s golden boot winner Sudairo Musanyusa notching a hat-trick.
He was assisted by Feme Ovbiagele and Ganzurich Bayarsaikhan, who each netted the ball during the 90-minute match.
Coach Brock Reilly said their success this year was underpinned by a strong culture at the club and a desire to take home the silverware.
“I think the main thing for us is the team atmosphere,” he said.
“Throughout the whole year, I’m not arguing that we were the most talented squad, but the 40 people we had — all committed and working towards one goal — really helped us with the success.
“Everyone knew what we were working towards and would do it for their mates.”
Reilly told the Kalgoorlie Miner the first part of the B-grade second half was the most tense time, with a 3-1 scoreline against Twin City feeling risky.
“From the beginning I think we were pretty dominant. We were 3-0 up but conceded one late going into halftime,” he said.
“It was sort of a pivotal moment in the match, the first 10 minutes after halftime, where if Twin City scores it’d be back to 3-2 and pressure’s on, whereas if we scored it’d be 4-1 and sort of cruising.
“We managed to score an extra two and put the game away.”
In the A-grade, Reilly said it was unexpected to come up against Boulder, who he said were really challenging to face with a strong performance from their goal keeper.
“They’re a dangerous team, but we were able to score two early ones which put us in good stead and confident,” he said.
“They went on a run and scored a goal probably 20 minutes into the second half and were pushing on, but we just defended really well as a unit.
Reilly said it was “relieving” as a coach to have success after starting pre-season training in March for a season that was riddled with COVID challenges and a tight competition for all clubs.
“We won five out of six trophies; going back-to-back in both grades was really good,” he said.
“To have put in all that work, to get the success is really well deserved.”
College’s B-grade men won all three titles on offer — Knock-out Cup winners, minor premiers and the GSA grand final — while the A-grade took home the two cups.
The club also had the most players recognized during the home-and-away season, with six awards going to key club members.
Reilly said he did not know of too many changes to the squad next year. He expected to lose a few players but was eager to attract more players next season.
.