Naumovski proud as UNSW FC chase maiden Sapphire Cup glory

Zoran Naumovski is preparing to lead UNSW FC into uncharted territory, with the club set to contest its first-ever Sapphire Cup Final against Manly United FC at Valentine Sports Park next Wednesday night.

For UNSW FC, the occasion represents more than just another match, it is the culmination of years of steady growth within the women’s program and a chance to etch the club’s name into the competition’s history.

“Reaching our first-ever Sapphire Cup Final is a significant milestone for everyone connected with UNSW FC,” Naumovski said.

“It reflects the hard work, commitment and belief that has gone into building the women’s program over a number of years.”

While proud of the achievement, Naumovski made it clear the group is not content with simply reaching the decider.

“Nobody has spent the last six months turning up to training on cold Tuesday and Thursday nights and those 6am Friday morning sessions just to be happy making the final,” he said. “If you survived those Friday mornings, you’d want to win something too.

“We want to embrace the occasion, perform to the best of our ability and give ourselves every opportunity to bring the trophy back to UNSW FC.”

Standing in their way is a Manly United side that has impressed throughout the campaign with consistency and discipline, earning respect from the UNSW camp.

“Manly have been one of the benchmark teams in the competition this season and deserve enormous credit,” Naumovski said.

“They are well-coached, organised, difficult to break down and have consistently found ways to win games.

“They demand your full attention for 90 minutes because they can punish you if you switch off for even a moment. We know we will need to be at our absolute best.”

Despite the challenge ahead, UNSW FC’s focus remains on their own identity and preparation.

Cup finals, Naumovski believes, are often decided by fine margins.

“Our focus is on preparing well, staying true to our identity and ensuring we give ourselves the best opportunity to perform on the day.”

Reflecting on the season, Naumovski praised the group’s consistency and the culture that has developed within the squad.

“We have been pleased with our season so far. The group has shown consistency, resilience and a strong commitment to the way we want to play,” he said.

“We’ve built a strong defensive foundation while continuing to improve attacking output. More importantly, the players have bought into a culture that values hard work, accountability and continuous improvement.”

Beyond results, the UNSW coach highlighted the environment created within the squad.

“What I have enjoyed most is seeing the players and staff genuinely having fun doing something they love. There is a strong connection within the group and that enjoyment has played a big role in our success.”

UNSW FC’s rise has been rapid, with the club now competing in just its third season in the top tier of women’s football in NSW.

“To have progressed from earning promotion into the NPL Women’s NSW competition to now competing in a Sapphire Cup Final in such a short period of time is something the entire club should be proud of,” Naumovski said.

“We are proud of how far the program has come, but we believe there is still much more growth ahead.”

Finally, Naumovski reserved praise for the UNSW FC supporters, urging them to turn out in force for the historic occasion.

“Cup Finals are special occasions and we would love to see as many people as possible come out and support the team,” he said.

“Bring your voices, bring your colours and bring plenty of energy. The players will take care of the football.

“And hopefully we all get through it with a few less grey hairs than expected.”