The only goal which they scored against Miluwani Happy Boys was good enough make FC Basel the 2008 champions of the prestigious Bindulavhathu KO Competition. The long-awaited final was staged at the Tshifulanani Stadium on Sunday.

The game was characterized by wasted scoring opportunities. Happy Boys soon realized that it was not their day when they squandered two golden opportunities in the first 20 minutes. Their left flank, Dakalo Tshisikule, was the first player to cause an upset. He dribbled past two Basel defenders in succession and shot aimlessly from the left corner. Ndivhudza Mmbara committed a similar blunder seven minutes later. Instead of replacing the injured Dakalo Tshisikule in the 16th minute, the Happy Boys’ technical staff committed suicide by keeping him on the field.

Happy Boys were the first to effect a change to their original line-up. They introduced Thomas Tshisikule and sacrificed Tshimangadzo Makwarela towards the end of the first half. Basel threatened to score in the 44th minute when Lovemore Chauke’s header went a little wide.

The goal which earned Basel the championship came three minutes into the last half. Nthambeleni Netshianane won a loose ball at the centre of the park and ran straight to the right corner, from where he dished a square pass to Lovemore Chauke, who easily headed home.

As if Happy Boys were being circumcised, the supporters for Basel started to sing hogo, a song that is sung at the initiation school.