Obradovic looks back: When FC Sion won the cup as a Challenge League team

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Goran Obradovic (47) laughs heartily. “I’m sorry, what? Do you want to talk to me about the 2006 cup final? That was 17 years ago. I have forgotten everything,” says the Sion legend. But then the memories come. First in fragments, then in all their glory. On this memorable day in Wankdorf, more than 30,000 people witnessed how Super League team YB received the lower division FC Sion. The Berners, without a title since 1989, want to get rid of their loser image. The Valais retain their cup myth.

“YB took the lead early,” Obradovic recalls. Carlos Varela scores, after which YB defender Steve Gohouri flies off the field after an emergency stop on Paulo Vogt. The rest is history. Obradovic equalized shortly after halftime with a beautiful free kick from more than 20 meters. The Valais win on penalties. FC Sion had never lost a cup final at that time. “The pressure was correspondingly great, after all, you don’t want to be the player who has the myth on his conscience,” says Obradovic.

As if Liverpool had become champions

The party afterward was one of the greatest things he had ever experienced. “It felt like we had just become champions with Liverpool FC. The whole city was full of people, the whole canton celebrated with us.”

He himself celebrated on the front line. Of course with a cigarette in the corner of his mouth, his trademark. “I started smoking when I was 15 and have smoked a pack a day ever since,” says Obradovic. He’s never tried to quit before. “Otherwise I will use e-cigarettes, which cannot be the solution.”

But during the 2006 cup final he kept his hands off the Zigis. Smoking during the break? A no go. “It’s also a matter of respect for your teammates,” says Obradovic. “From the moment we left the hotel, cigarettes were taboo.”

That’s generally what they are today. Hardly any Super League professional still uses the red-hot stick. Of the 22 players on the field on Friday in the match between Sion and GC, most are model professionals.

Obradovic will not go to the stadium, even though he still lives in Sion. He still believes the Challenge League team will win. “GC is not making the strongest impression at the moment.” And certainly the weaker one than YB 2006.

Source : Blick