Mamelodi Sundowns defender Fawaaz Basadien has opened up about the mental shift that helped transform his fortunes at Chloorkop following a frustrating debut season with the African champions.
The 29-year-old left-back arrived at Masandawana at the start of the 2025/26 campaign with high expectations following a stellar period with Stellenbosch FC and the Bafana Bafana national setup.
However, his first year in Tshwane turned out to be a testing ordeal. Basadien found game time hard to come by, managing just seven league appearances. The prolonged period on the sidelines ultimately cost him his place in the national team, leading to his exclusion from South Africa’s historic 2026 FIFA World Cup squad.
EMBRACING THE HARDSHIP AT CHLOORKOP
Rather than letting the setbacks derail him, the versatile fullback kept his head down. Under head coach Miguel Cardoso this season, Basadien has emerged as a key figure in the Sundowns lineup, delivering standout performances every time he steps onto the pitch.
His strong domestic revival has already paid dividends, earning him a recall to the Bafana Bafana preliminary squad for the upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations [AFCON] qualifiers.
BASADIEN ON WHAT CHANGED IN HIS GAME
Speaking to the club’s media team ahead of Sundowns’ midweek league clash against Siwelele FC, the former Moroka Swallows player pointed to unwavering self-belief and a strong mindset as the catalysts for his turnaround.
“I think it’s just a matter of consistency as well as the belief I showed throughout my time since I arrived here,” Basadien explained.
“It hasn’t been the start I wanted to have, but with my belief, my positive mindset, and positive attitude, that’s what kept me going. Eventually, when given a chance, I had to step up and take it, and I think I did that.
“It is a matter of just consistent performances now to maintain that level and even increase that level,” he added.
Masandawana will look to extend their momentum when they host struggling Siwelele FC at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Wednesday evening, with kick-off scheduled for 19:30.
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