Stellenbosch FC head coach Steve Barker has lauded the impressive performances of his defender, Fawaaz Basadien, during the recent Bafana Bafana international fixtures.
Basadien’s consistent high level of performance throughout the season has culminated in significant recognition at the national level.
After a strong start to the campaign, marked by goals, assists, and solid defensive contributions for Stellenbosch, the composed left-back earned consecutive starts for Bafana Bafana.
This opportunity arose following the withdrawal of Aubrey Modiba due to personal reasons, and Basadien seized the moment, showcasing his quality by providing an assist in the away match against Benin.
In an exclusive interview featured in the iDiski Times e-paper, Coach Barker expressed his unsurprise at Basadien’s burgeoning success. He revealed that Stellenbosch FC had long identified the defender’s potential, actively pursuing his signature when he was still with Moroka Swallows.
“No, I’m not surprised,” Barker affirmed to iDiski Times. “I think we’ve always seen the quality of Fawaaz even before he came to us. Hence, we really worked hard to get him to our club. Ja, he takes a lot of things in his stride.”
Barker further elaborated on Basadien’s attributes, highlighting his technical proficiency and growing defensive prowess. “He’s a classy footballer, so he doesn’t get flustered by too many things.
He trusts in his ability, and he’s comfortable on the ball, and his defending has improved a lot over the years, having played as a wing and as a number 10 in his younger career. So, ja, he’s got good all-around ability, strong in the air, both, attacking and defensively.”
The Stellenbosch FC coach also emphasized Basadien’s additional strengths. ““He’s a good set-piece taker and a good quality provider of the ball. So ja, he has all attributes, so we’re not surprised at all.”