Miguel Cardoso addresses Fawaaz Basadien lack of game time

Interview

Cardoso sheds light on Basadien's lack of game time

Photo: Mamelodi Sundowns defender Fawaaz Basadien

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has explained the reason behind Fawaaz Basadien’s lack of game time at the Tshwane giants.

The highly rated left-back signed for the defending champions on a high profile move from Stellenbosch FC in the ongoing transfer window.

However, Basadien is yet to command a regular place in the starting XI, often coming off the bench or serving as an unused substitute. The Downs mentor has since clarified the situation.

“Fawaaz has no problems. The problems of Fawaaz are the same problems that has Divine Lunga, Aubrey Modiba, Thato Sibiya, Asekho Tiwani, and that also made us to loan Terrence Mashego – it’s the quality that we have in that position,” Cardoso explained.

“Despite that we believe a lot in Fawaaz like we do in Aubrey and Divine, and Fawaaz will have his moment. Today [Saturday] he was on the bench, he could have played, he just didn’t play because I had to decide which players were the best to take out, not to manage this game but to think about the next ones.

“If I had one or two extra substitutes, for sure he would have gone in like [Thapelo] Maseko, not only to manage the other ones but because we trust them. So, there will be moments for Fawaaz to play, we are happy with his work.

Cardoso went on to state that fixture congestion fuels the Bafana international’s lack of minutes as there is limited time for the player to impress in training.

“Of course we are demanding more, he is adapting to what we want. Also, we don’t train a lot and that doesn’t give him opportunities to show himself permanently. It’s also a problem that comes from the calendar,” he added.

“But there will be a moment that things will happen, let’s hope it doesn’t happen because another one is injured. But naturally he will have his opportunity like all the other ones – it’s normal. I could state other names that are not playing at the moment, it’s difficult.