Mamelodi Sundowns‘ new signing Fawaaz Basadien is thrilled to have made his debut for the reigning Betway Premiership champions and has his sights set on securing regular game time.
The 28-year-old defender described his first appearance as an “honour and a privilege,” and is determined to make a significant impact at his new club.
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Basadien’s long-awaited debut came in the final 12 minutes of Sundowns’ commanding 4-0 MTN8 quarter-final victory over Richards Bay last Sunday.
Replacing Zuko Mdunyelwa at Lucas Moripe Stadium, the left-back got his first taste of competitive action with the Brazilians since joining from Stellenbosch in the off-season.
Despite the limited minutes, Basadien was pleased with his introduction to the team. “I enjoyed every single minute of it,” he told the club’s official website.
“As soon as I came in, the guys wanted to give me the ball. Maybe, I wanted to get more minutes but for now it’s good to get some touches on the ball and play with the guys.”
Targeting a Regular Starting Role
With the new league season just beginning, Basadien is fully aware of the tough competition for a starting spot in Sundowns’ star-studded squad. However, he is focused on proving his worth and contributing to the team’s ongoing success.
His main goal is to become a regular fixture in the team, helping the club add more silverware to its already impressive trophy cabinet.
“The target is to play regularly and help the team achieve more, win more trophies,” Basadien stated. “But my main thing is just to help the team. By that I mean helping them keep clean sheets and getting assists by trying to reach the team’s objectives and winning titles as well.”
Basadien could get his first opportunity to feature in a league match this Saturday when Sundowns travel to face Chippa United in their season opener.