By Ethan Harris
UNIVERSITY of South Wales first team forward Cameron Keetch has highlighted a “fantastic season” ahead of the BUCS Championship cup final tomorrow.
Keetch and the rest of the squad travel to Basford United in Nottingham, as Lee Kendall’s side look to return with a league and cup triumph to their name.
After an unbeaten league campaign, only Hartpury stand in their way of achieving just that.
The Premier League South rivals fell 2-0 at the USW Sport Park but recovered for a goalless draw later in the season on home turf.
Now they look to spoil USW’s perfect season ahead of the final fixture of the year, as both squads go head-to-head looking for cup glory.
After moving up from the seconds team, Keetch has progressed into an influential figure for coach Kendall’s side throughout their season and is confident in the group of players around him.
“Well it’s been a fantastic season for me personally, with the university and outside of it,” Keetch said.
“I started the year with the seconds team but gradually with training I progressed and got a first team selection.
“It wasn’t easy, I basically just worked hard and tried to get myself to that same level as the Men’s 1sts at the start of the year, and I’m lucky enough that I managed to get to that level.
The Cambrian and Clydach Vale regular knows how difficult winning a trophy can be, after narrowly missing out to university rivals Cardiff Metropolitan University in the Nathaniel MG Cup. Their BUCS side were beaten by USW en-route to tomorrow’s final.
For Keetch, getting revenge over them was a particular highlight of his season, but he knows Hartpury will not be an easy test.
“Beating Cardiff Metropolitan University twice, that was it, my highlight of USW’s season,” Keetch remarked.
“The course has surprised me as well, because it’s what I wanted to go into from a young age, football coaching, so I wanted to develop myself as a coach and it’s helped me a lot.
“It will be a tough game but I’m confident we’ll go out and win it. Hopefully I’ll do well for the team and play like I did against Cardiff Met.
“We’ve come together as one group instead of individuals. When we go out on the pitch we play together and not individually and I think that’s where our performances come together, and that’s where we’ve done well this season.”
When asked about his predictions for tomorrow’s clash, Keetch had his sights on a positive result for the University of South Wales.
“3-1 USW, fingers crossed!”
