RTL Today – Luxembourg Cup: Union Titus Pétange’s stubbornness pays off
The Bassin Minier club went through all the states to open the doors of the semi-final of the Luxembourg Cup which it will play against Racing this Wednesday at 7 p.m.
It probably takes a little luck, but above all a lot of perseverance to slalom through the obstacles that stand on the course that leads to the Luxembourg Cup. The Union Titus Pétange has been well known since its entry into the running. A qualification on penalties against Union Kayl-Tétange in the second round, a winning extension in Rosport in the next round, a place in the quarter-finals following a controlled meeting in Strassen then additional time used wisely to reach the semi-finals at the expense of Etzella (2-0).
After that, the Bassin Minier club is shielded. But not satisfied. “It’s been my dream since I was a kid to play on the European stage.”, concedes Artur Abreu. “We have two games left to do that.” And a first obstacle called Racing. A team from the capital which has not yet beaten Titus Pétange this season. “It may be a psychological asset”continues the Petangeois striker who does not remember the trophy reinforced by his elders in 2005 against CeBra.
“FIGHT TO THE END”
The club was still called CS Pétange. Since then, he has walked among the elite before joining his neighbor Lamadelaine. The latest born settled in the BGL Ligue but is still looking for his DNA as confirmed by an endless season during which he never stopped fighting to avoid the play-off. “The objective was to beat Rosport last Friday to focus 100% on the Luxembourg Cup, but we had to settle for one point. We will have to fight until the end”says the former professional who passed through Guimarães and who could be able to leave at the end of the season to assume his European fantasy if his club, his “home“Like he says, don’t host a Conference League game next season.
The road is long and short at the same time. Yannick Kakoko, who took over the reins of the club when Nicolas Grézault left, is aware of this. “The priority remains maintenance, but when the possibility exists of winning a title, we will go all outPosed, the former midfielder dismissed the pressure in Racing’s camp.”Two must be European. We don’t!” We can not give him wrong in the light of the means invested in recent seasons at Verlorenkost. But if affirming it were enough to take the weight off their shoulders, we know many students who would use this method.
A SEMI-FINAL… “IT’S NOT EVERY DAY”
The Union Titus Pétange will have to assume in front of its public. And activating that the defensive stability found since the induction of his new coach, is only one parameter that has improved among others. “The psychological shock played”, Art explaining Abreu. “Boys short of game time gave their all in training to apply for a starting spot and others on the pitch realized it was time to wake up to keep their jobs.”
The cocktail remobilized a group in the process of saving themselves and still engaged in this ordeal with such a particular flavor. “I think it’s a bit cliché to talk about a cup team”, says Kakoko. “We may still have to take more pleasure than usual, appreciate the moment and accept the challenge that we are offered. It’s not every day that we play a semi-final.says the one who won two national cups in Poland.
There will still be time afterwards to talk about the future. From that of a collective which will perhaps play a final against the ogre dudelangeois or the no less hungry Fola Esch. From that of the coach also to whom we have promised a place in the technical organization chart next season. Basically in the shoes of an assistant. But a match sometimes has magical virtues…