Cape Town-based Basics FC book their spot in the KIA Champ into the Arena national finals
Following an 8-hour playoff between 32 teams from the Western Cape, Cape Town-based Basics FC was ultimately crowned the Western Cape Regional Winners in the KIA Champ into the Arena five-a-side amateur football tournament.
The team joins Gauteng Regional Winners, Forze FC, at the National Finals on April 22nd in Johannesburg, with the winner of the Kwa-Zulu Natal Regional to be determined on Sunday, 15 April 2018.
The Champ into the Arena tournament, hosted KIA Motors South Africa in support of its global vehicle partnership to FIFA and the 2018 World Cup Russia, took place at Evolution Sports Arena, Athlone yesterday, and saw Cape Town’s finest come out to play for the opportunity of representing South Africa in Russia during the Champ into the Arena World Finals in June. Basics FC shined throughout the tournament, facing off against Untouchables FC and winning 2-0.
“The competition was tough – certainly ‘right up there’ in terms of having all the best five-a-side players in Cape Town, and as a goalkeeper I had to stay focused all the time,”
said captain, Abdulla Fakier.
“In one of the games I slipped up in terms of my concentration and before I knew it, we were three goals down, but still somehow managed to come back and win it thankfully. I have played in this tournament before and today was certainly the toughest one yet – well organised and with a great vibe. The fact that we are completely overwhelmed right now, says a lot for how big the tournament really is: the win hasn’t yet sunk in!”
Entries are still open for the Kwa-Zulu Natal regional finals. The entry form is available online by clicking on the KIA Champ into the Arena banner on the KIA website (www.kia.co.za) or by visiting www.kiachamp.co.za.
