Daylesford-Hepburn United captain Hiroshi Masuda said the Ballarat District Soccer Association grand final will hold an emotional significance following the sudden passing of club founder Marton Szokolai.
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Masuda said the team will don black arm bands to commemorate Szokolai who passed away on Monday. He said the news was devastating for the club which will have three teams represented on grand final day.
"He is the person who would want to most see us achieve success in a grand final, so we are very spirited," Masuda said.
Daylesford will look to put the finishing touches on what has been a Cinderella season for the club when it takes on Ballarat North United in the BDSA men's division one open decider on Saturday.
After losing in the opening round of the season, the club bounced-back to win 15 games to claim its first league title in almost 20 years.
"No one expected us to be here when the season started. But we took the season game by game, and didn't put a forecast on winning," Masuda said.
United will take on a red-hot Ballarat North outfit which has played its way to the grand final after finishing in fourth place.
North United head coach Tim Beggs, who assumed position at the helm four rounds out from finals, said the team was confident with the momentum it had built recently.
