After back-to-back seasons of finishing at the bottom of the standings, NCFC is on the verge of a USL League One title, hosting in-state rival Charlotte Independence in the final on Sunday. WRAL Sports' Louis Fernandez takes us on a journey through the eyes of a player who grew up with the club.
SPONSORED BY IRON OAKS, CHEVROLET. >> WELL, AFTER BACK-TO-BACK SEASONS AND FINISHING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STANDINGS, NORTH CAROLINA FC IS ON THE VERGE OF A USL LEAGUE. ONE TITLE HOSTING IN-STATE RIVAL CHARLOTTE INDEPENDENCE IN THE FINAL ON SUNDAY NIGHT WRAL'S LUIS FERNANDEZ TAKES US ON THE JOURNEY TO THE EYES OF A PLAYER WHO GREW UP WITH THE CLUB. >> NORTH CAROLINA FC DOESN'T TAKE WINNING LIGHTLY. YEAH, I THINK IT'S A MASSIVE MOMENT FOR THE CLUB. IT'S A GROWING CLUB. SOME YOUNG PLAYERS HAVE BEEN GROWING RIGHT ALONG SIDE ON THE ON A PERSONAL LEVEL MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME, YOU KNOW, HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROFESSIONAL FINAL AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE CLUB THAT GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY WHEN I WAS A 17, 18 NELSON FLORES, BLANCO JOINED NCFC BACK IN 2017 AS A TEENAGER AFTER PLAYING ON THE WEST COAST FOR A COUPLE OF SEASONS. HE REJOINED THE CLUB IN 2021. NO, I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA AND IT'S CRAZY NOW BECAUSE NOW IT'S LIKE MY SECOND HOME AND COACH JOHN BRADFORD SAYS FLORES BLANCOS, BUT THE CLUB WANTS TO BE FROM YOUTH ACADEMY. THE FIRST TEAM SAY HIS PROGRESSION OVER THE YEARS ON AND OFF THE FIELD. FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, HE'S JUST RECENTLY BEEN MARRIED AND AND JUST MATURING AND IN OTHER WAYS. >> BUT YEAH, THAT THAT'S THAT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE WHO WE WANT TO BE AND WHAT KIND OF SEE AND HIS GROWTH AS HE'S BEEN PHENOMENAL WITH ALL THIS CHANGE ONE OF THEIR LEAGUE TITLE INTO THE MIX 2 YEARS OF, YOU KNOW, SUFFERING NOW BEING IN THE AND >> IT MAKES IT MORE A LITTLE MORE EMOTIONAL AND HOPEFULLY WE CELEBRATE THE END OF THE YEAR. AND THEN 90 20 MINUTES,
