Kings captain Savio Genini hoping that dreams do come true
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Kingussie captain Savio Genini says it will be the stuff of dreams to lift the Camanachd Cup final on his home ground this weekend.
The most glittering prize in shinty is up for grabs at The Dell when the Red and Blues will be looking to beat Lovat on Saturday to win the trophy for the 24th time in their history.
Despite being the second most successful team in the competition behind Newtonmore with 34 titles, Kingussie have not gone all the way since 2014 and that was at the Bught Park in Inverness.
There has been no lack of build up ahead of the big game which has been nearly three years in the making thanks to Covid.
The Tulloch Homes Camanachd Cup Final is returning to the Badenoch capital for the first time since 1999 and for its 125th anniversary since it was first played.
On top of that the Kings are on for a grand slam.
They have already lifted the MacTavish Cup and Macaulay Cup, they are also top of the Premiership as well as contesting the Camanachd Cup final.
But Genini says they are not getting carried away and thinking of a clean sweep of major competitions.
“We have to take it one game at a time,” he said.
“We have been good at doing that this year, putting the occasion aside and concentrating on one game at a time and we will keep doing that.
“There is still a lot of shinty to be played and any team can beat anyone on their day.
“You don't count your chickens before they hatch, so we will see what happens.”
Genini was a mere youngster – just 17 – in the last Kingussie team to win the Camanachd Cup in 2014 when they defeated Glenurquhart 4–0. He even got on the scoresheet twice playing upfront alongside the legendary Ronald Ross.
He says they are taking on a Lovat team who might have more experience but he says the Kings have a talented young team who are good enough to lift the trophy on Saturday.
"I was lucky enough to be in the squad the last time we won the Scottish Cup," he said.
"We still have a young team and our average age is around 22 to 23.
"We are a young squad, we have a lot to learn, a few of us are lucky to have Camanachd Cup winning medals but we are relatively inexperienced in these big games.
"But the team is as sharp as I've seen it looking and everyone is up at the same fitness level.
"However, Lovat have a great core right through their defence and also have a good forward line. If you count them out then you will get punished."
