Mamelodi Sundowns defender Fawaaz Basadien, who has found his opportunities limited since joining the club, has received candid advice from former left-back David Kannemeyer.
The Bafana Bafana defender joined the Betway Premiership champions after three successful seasons with Stellenbosch FC and was expected to be one of the Tshwane giants’ key players.
But the 28-year-old has struggled to break into the star-studded Sundowns. He has featured in only four matches across all competitions this season under Miguel Cardoso.
A week ago, Sundowns coach Cardoso revealed that the reason the former Moroka Swallows player has struggled for game time was because of competition within the team.
But Kannemeyer, who spent four years at Masandawana, says Basadien must never feel like he made a wrong move.
WHAT ADVICE DID DAVID KANNEMEYER OFFER TO MAMELODI SUNDOWNS LEFT-BACK?
“At the end of the day, he made a decision because he needed a new challenge,” Kannemeyer told FARPost.
“Within his mind, he knew that he was going to Sundowns, where there were other left-backs that had been playing well and who had been part of the national team. I think he wanted to take the challenge.”
FAWAAZ BASADIEN URGED TO GRAB HIS OPPORTUNITY WHEN IT COMES
Basadien finds himself in a crowded left-back position, where he must compete for minutes with a talented group that includes Divine Lunga, Aubrey Modiba, Thato Sibiya, and Asekho Tiwani. This depth is so significant that Terrence Mashego was recently sent out on loan to Durban City FC just to secure more minutes.
“The most important thing for him is to stay focused, stay positive and work extra hard. When he gets his opportunity, he just needs to grab it with both hands,” added Kannemeyer.
“So he just needs to work extra hard; it is the same for players who go to Europe. You need to do extra all the time to be one up for whoever you are competing with.
“So I feel that’s important for him at the moment. He shouldn’t feel that he made the wrong move. That’s why I say I think he thought about things before he moved, and it’s just a matter of time before he gets his opportunity, and he must grab it. You don’t become a bad player overnight just because you moved from one club to another club.”
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