Former coach Brandon Truter has shared his perspective on the limited opportunities facing Mamelodi Sundowns defender Fawaaz Basadien this season.
The 29-year-old left-back, who joined from Stellenbosch, has found playing time scarce, making only three starts and five substitute appearances. This has persisted even when primary options Aubrey Modiba and Divine Lunga have been unavailable, with academy graduate Thato Sibiya also being selected ahead of him.
Truter, who coached Basadien from a young age and brought him to Swallows FC in 2020, acknowledged the intense competition at a top club like Sundowns.
“The players you’ve mentioned, Aubrey and Divine, are very good players in that position,” Truter told PSLSA. “At a big team you will find quality versus quality, that’s what you want, iron sharpens iron. Fawaaz just needs to work hard and grab the opportunity when it comes.”
He expressed confidence in the player’s mental fortitude, citing his humble and grounded nature. “The situation won’t affect him. He knows the situation… but the quality around him is top notch as well,” Truter stated.
However, the former Richards Bay manager emphasized that the onus is also on head coach Miguel Cardoso to manage the situation carefully. He stressed the importance of clear communication to keep the Bafana Bafana international motivated and ready.
“The coach has to manage that situation. You have to tell him certain things, point out the why, the where. These are things you have to manage to keep the player ready,” Truter explained.
“The worst thing is when you call upon this player and he’s not ready, mentally he’s everywhere… So it’s definitely important for coaches to manage the situation, explain why it is happening.”
Truter concluded with a clear message for the defender: “At that level opportunities will come and you need to be ready, grab it. Once you’re in there, you need to work even harder to keep that position.”
