East Kilbride boss Kevin Rutkiewicz says he’s desperate to win the Lowland League Cup – and his players should be excited that they’re a game away from a final.
Kilby thumped Berwick Rangers 4-0 on April 23 to set up a semi-final against Broomhill on Saturday at K-Park.
Rutkiewicz knows cup finals aren’t something every player is lucky enough to experience, and admits it would mean the world to win his first trophy as a manager.
He said: “These chances don’t roll around every year in football.
“I remember being 19 and 20 and thinking that they did.
“I was lucky enough to get to a League Cup final with Aberdeen, and you thought that was normal, but the next time I got near Hampden was probably seven years later with St Johnstone!
“Silverware is hard to come by at any level, and you should cherish it – we’re one game away from a final.
“We know what Broomhill are all about, they’re going to have a plan to get to that final themselves, so it’s going to be a difficult game.”
Rutkiewicz added: “We’re absolutely determined to get our hands on that cup, and if we did, a large part of that would be down to the management team that put this squad together.
“We’re only carrying the torch, we definitely didn’t ignite it.
“It would be amazing to win it. It would be my first silverware as a manager. Just to get your hands on a cup... honestly, it’s hard for me to put it into words.
“You win, lose and draw in football every week. You learn to deal with the lows and cope with the highs, but these are the big wins, these are the wins that really matter.
“These are proper victories for me, what the hard work and the sacrifices that the players make – leaving their families in midweek, going to training after work, after a hard shift, these are what make it worthwhile.”
Rutkiewicz says the stakes for EK are simple; win and it’s an extended campaign, but lose and it’s the end of the season.
“Winning this cup would mean the world to me – if we get there,” he said. “It’s knock-out football, there’s no reward for getting beat off Broomhill. There’s no pat on the back, it’s season over.
“If we can reach the point of playing against Broomhill full strength then it’s up to us to bring our ‘A’ game and not worry about what they are going to bring.
“If we’re at our best we’ll give ourselves a chance.”
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