Updated September 13, 2024, 10:30
Football: Here is the (possible) trap that awaits FC Sion in Zurich
With YF Juventus, a solid 1st league team led by several former Super League players, the Valais club will not necessarily have an easy time this Friday evening. Here’s why.
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Nicolas Jacquier
Today at YF Juventus, striker Mychell Chagas played for more than two years under the Servette jersey with which he celebrated promotion to the Super League. He is seen here on August 31, 2019, during a match against Xamax at La Praille (2-2).
Urs Lindt/freshfocus
Spread over three days, the last 16 of the Swiss Cup begins this Friday evening already. Among the five matches on the program, the one between YF Juventus (1st league) and Sion (Super League) exudes a potential surprise. Especially if the Valaisans do not put all the ingredients required for this kind of meeting, unbalanced on paper. We will remember that in the first round, Sion had trembled terribly in Delémont before winning its ticket on penalties (2-5, 1-1 ap).
A Zurich opponent “unknown” to the general public, several vengeful elements having promised to bring down FC Sion, a “stadium” that is not really one, all this smells of a trap. Add to that a Friday the 13th and you will understand why the visitor will have to be extra vigilant to avoid a cruel disappointment. Let’s introduce ourselves.
1. SC YF Juventus, who is it?
Created in 1992, the Zurich club is the result of the merger between Young Fellows and Società Calcistica Italiana Juventus Zurigo. A traditional club founded in 1903, Young Fellows played for 29 years in the LNA, even winning a Swiss Cup in 1936 (2-0 against Servette). Currently runner-up to FC Wettswil-Bonstetten, leader of group 3 of the 1st league, FC Sion’s opponent is coached by Piero Bauert (64 years old), whose particularity is to also be its president. Attention: with 15 goals, the Zurich team has the best attack in their group. On August 24, they notably inflicted a severe… 8-2 on FC Uzwil!
2. Where will the match be played?
Sion is preparing to discover the Juchhof sports complex, comprising around ten pitches located in Schlieren, on the edge of the CFF tracks. Kick-off is set for this Friday at 8 p.m. Officially, the small “stadium” can only accommodate 1,000 spectators. To obtain the right to challenge Sion, YF Juventus eliminated Zurich City (2nd league) with the smallest score of 0-1. The last official match between YF Juventus and Sion dates back to September 2, 2005, when both teams were playing in the Challenge League. Coached by Gianni Dellacasa, the Valaisans won 2-0, following two penalties converted by Paolo Vogt (33rd) and Goran Obradovic (85th). Refereed by Philippe Leuba, the match was played in front of 650 spectators gathered at the Utogrund.
3. Who are the local stars?
A fairly heterogeneous ensemble, YF Juventus can rely on several players at the end of their career, having previously tasted the Super League. Among the familiar faces, that of Mychell Chagas. At 35, the Brazilian striker played between 2018 and 2020 at Servette FC (59 matches/24 goals), before signing for Grasshopper. He then began a world tour which was to take him to China (NT Zhiyun, YB Longding) and Indonesia (PSS Sleman). Chagas is not the only player that Sion will have to be wary of. The visitors will also find another trigger on their route in the person of the immense Albion Avdijaj (1m91), a 30-year-old Kosovar international who has played for GC, Vaduz and Kriens.
Other old acquaintances, Nzuzi Toko (33 years old), who we saw in the jersey of Grasshopper (162 matches/13 goals) then of Saint-Gall, as well as Imran Bunjaku (ex-GC, Schaffhausen and Aarau). As for Saleh Chihadeh (Palestinian international born in Germany) and Abduljabbar Al Abaddie (former Swiss international of the M19 of Yemeni origin), they both played in Valais under the colours of FC Naters.
4. What does Didier Tholot think about it?
Sion, who spent the night in the Zurich region, “filled” the international break by playing a friendly match against Annecy (L2), which they won 2-1 in Fully. Didier Tholot has not forgotten the circumstances in which his team had painfully secured their ticket to Delémont. “We know that every Cup match can be complicated,” the coach admitted to the press on Thursday. “We must not fall into a false rhythm as was the case in Delémont.” The technical staff observed the Zurich opponent of the evening twice. “It’s a team that seems to me to be quite experienced with players capable of raising their level of play in a match like this.”
For the druid of Whirlwind, there is no room for confusion. “The group is ready to fight,” he assures. It may be necessary…
5. How will Christian Constantin travel?
During the first rounds of the Cup, Christian Constantin got into the habit of traveling by helicopter. Here he is seen arriving in Schötz (LU) in September 2009, in the middle of the Covid period.
Andy Mueller/freshfocus
During the first round, at the Blancherie, the arrival of Christian Constantin by air had caused a great stir. Seeing the boss of FC Sion arrive by helicopter also gets people talking. “When I do that, the organizers are very happy,” CC explained to us. “It gives them one more attraction. A bit like Michael Jackson arriving…”
What will happen this time? “I’ll go there by car, leaving quite early given the risk of traffic jams.” Christian Constantin knows how dangerous such an appointment can be if approached lightly. “It’s a real trap. We’ll be dealing with a great team. We’re not going to joke around or show off there.”
However, Sion has no intention of closing down its favourite competition. “In this year of the hundredth edition,” confirms its president, “we intend to get closer to the Wankdorf.” Proof of the concentration of the visitors, Anton Miranchuk and Mohcine Bouriga, the last two recruits, are not on the trip. The technical staff preferred to concoct a special fitness programme for them for a week in order to integrate them into the group for Lugano’s visit to Tourbillon on 22 September.
