The proud owner of one of the safest pair of hands in the country, Scott Basalaj has helped his teams to glory on both the domestic and international stages.

But despite a career that already includes titles in the ISPS Handa Premiership and OFC Champions League, as well as an appearance at the FIFA Club World Cup, a Chatham Cup winner’s medal would take pride of place on his mantelpiece.

“I’m desperate to win the Chatham Cup,” admits the Wellington-based goalkeeper.

“I’ve been lucky enough to win the national league and Champions League with Team Wellington but I think the Chatham Cup is definitely the most prestigious award you can get in New Zealand football. There’s not many people who have a winner’s medal so I’m desperate to get one, as is everyone else in the team.”

Basalaj has the chance to edge a step closer to that goal this weekend when his Wellington Olympic side takes on Onehunga Sports in the quarter-finals of this year’s edition of the ISPS Handa Chatham Cup. Having made it to the final eight, Basalaj sees no reason why Olympic’s impressive run can’t continue.

“We’re really confident and looking forward to it,” he says.

“We’ve been on a good run lately, both in the cup and the league so we’re hoping to go all the way this year. We’ve got a great team and we think we can do it.”

The opponent they will meet in Auckland tomorrow will also fancy their chances though. Expertly coached by Hiroshi Miyazawa, Onehunga Sports are regarded as one of the top club teams in the country and won the Chatham Cup just two years ago.

Onehunga Sports celebrate claiming the Chatham Cup in 2017 (Photosport)

Miyazawa is able to call on a core of players who all have a wealth of experience at national league level, such as goalkeeper Lewis Caunter, Ross Haviland, Jordan Vale, Andrew Milne and Sean Lovemore.

But the Olympic line-up is also stacked full of quality – including the likes of Leonardo Villa, George Barbarouses, Tom Jackson and Alexander Palezevic – which makes their visit to Waikaraka Park arguably the tie of the round.  

“Every game is always going to be a challenge once you get to this stage,” Basalaj says.

“We’ve done a little bit of study on them but it’s all up to us, if we turn up and play to our potential then we’ll give ourselves the best chance to make the semi-finals.”

Olympic have already shown they can overcome high-quality opposition with a hard-fought win over local rivals Miramar Rangers in the previous round, an occasion that proved an odd experience in some ways for Basalaj. The match took place at Miramar’s David Farrington Park home – where Basalaj plays with Team Wellington in the summer – and several of his national league team mates were in the opposition.

“It’s always a good laugh and I have to make sure I don’t pass the ball to them out of habit,” he jokes.

“It’s a good challenge to play against those guys but it is a bit different going into the visitors’ changing room at Dave Farrington – I’d much rather be on the other side because it’s a bit bigger. But nothing beats going there in the small away shed and getting a win so that was great.”

Wellington Olympic's only Chatham Cup triumph came nearly ten years ago (Photosport)

It would be fitting if coach Shaun Easthope was able to lead Olympic to the cup this year as this is the tenth anniversary of their only previous triumph, which came courtesy of a 2-1 win over Three Kings United in 2009. Their only other appearance in the final came in a 1-0 loss to Waitakere City back in 1994 and Basalaj says cup fever is gripping the club as the current side looks to return to one of the biggest stages in the domestic game.

“The Chatham Cup is a big highlight for Olympic every year and the fact that we’ve progressed to the quarter-finals has definitely got a buzz around the club. We always have the backing of our supporters in every game but it is getting a bit more special as we’re progressing in the cup.”

Basalaj himself is entering unchartered territory as he prepares for his first-ever quarter-final. He did play in the earlier rounds for Lower Hutt City as they finished runners-up in 2012 but was denied the chance to take part from the quarter-finals onwards as he had international duties at the London Olympic Games and other commitments with the Wellington Phoenix.

In addition to his time with the Phoenix, the 25-year-old has further professional experience with Scottish outfit Partick Thistle but his heart now lies with Olympic, for whom he has played for nearly four years.

“They approached me not long after I got back from Scotland and I’ve never looked back. I couldn’t see myself playing for anyone else through the winter, it’s a fantastic club with fantastic people behind the scenes and we have a great squad as well,” he says.

“You need that winning mentality in cup football and we’ve definitely got that in our team.”

Wellington Olympic’s visit to Onehunga Sports is one of three ISPS Handa Chatham Cup matches taking place across the country this weekend as the remaining eight teams fight it out for a berth in the semi-finals, see below for all the match details.

ISPS Handa Chatham Cup Quarter-Finals

Saturday 3 August

Onehunga Sports vs Wellington Olympic
Waikaraka Park, 1.30pm

Caversham vs Bay Olympic
Hancock Park, 2pm

Melville United vs Christchurch United
Gower Park, 2pm

Sunday 4 August

Napier City Rovers vs Albany United
Bluewater Stadium, 2pm

For more information on the ISPS Handa Chatham Cup please click here

Article added: Friday 02 August 2019