COACH Chris Hykiel believes Polonia have the ammunition to cause an upset against perennial cup finalists Malory Eagles in Saturday's climax to the volleyball season.
It will be a proud moment for the Ealing team's boss and doubly poignant because he played the last time Polonia reached the national final nearly 20 years ago.
By a strange twist of fate the final (which starts at 3pm) is being played at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre for the first time since 1992 – when Ealing were last in the final and when the team beating them were the same opponents as Saturday.
“When we won the cup the year before that, beating Liverpool in 1991, it was the best moment of my life at the time,” Hykiel said.
“I have a feeling this will be no less exciting and it will be a very proud moment for me.
“I'm very envious of Malory, who reach the final every year and are always full of England and GB players, but I genuinely feel we have a big chance of winning it if we play to our potential.
“We haven't beaten them for years and my own record against them as a player was something like one or two wins in 50 matches. But I believe we can do it.”
A key to the game will be keeping playmaker Richard Dobell quiet, but at 42, his powers may be on the wane. But experienced Malory are still national champions and it will still be a tough test for the west Londoners.
