Cardoso explains to the media the real reason behind Fawaz Basadien's lack of participation! | OneFootball

The Portuguese makes everything clear.

Cardoso explains to the media the real reason behind Fawaz Basadien's lack of participation!

When Fawaaz Basadien made the high-profile switch from Stellenbosch FC to the reigning champions, Mamelodi Sundowns, it was seen as a natural step up for one of the Premier Soccer League's most promising defenders. His journey to Chloorkop was built on a formidable foundation: a key role in delivering Stellenbosch's first major trophy, the 2023 Carling Knockout Cup, a deep run in the CAF Confederation Cup, and the ultimate recognition—a call-up to Hugo Broos' Bafana Bafana squad.

Yet, for a player accustomed to being a central figure, the transition to the Tshwane giants has been a lesson in patience. In a squad dripping with talent, Basadien has found minutes hard to come by, featuring in just four matches across all competitions since his arrival—a situation that has not gone unnoticed by the fans and media alike.

Addressing the curiosity surrounding the left-back's limited role, Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has now provided insight into the reasoning behind the cautious integration.

What did Miguel Cardoso say?

Miguel Cardoso addressed the growing curiosity around Fawaaz Basadien’s limited minutes, framing it not as a personal shortcoming but as a testament to the immense depth within his squad. Following his team's 3-1 victory over Durban City FC, the Mamelodi Sundowns coach painted a clear picture of the selection headache he faces in the left-back position.

He revealed that the logjam of talent was so significant that it directly led to the loan departure of Terrence Mashego, simply to manage the surplus of quality. “Look, Fawaaz has no problems; his problems are the same ones as those of Divine Lunga, Aubrey Modiba, Thato Sibiya, and [Asekho Tiwani]. That made us send Terrence Mashego on loan; it’s the quality we have in that position,” Cardoso explained.

Emphatically backing his new signing, the coach assured everyone that Basadien’s time will come, attributing his absence in this particular match to the difficult choices required by a specific game plan. “Despite the fact that we believe a lot in Fawaaz, we also believe in Aubrey and Lunga. He will have his moment. Today [Saturday], he was on the bench, and he could have played; he just didn’t play because I had to decide which players worked perfectly for this game.”

Cardoso further elaborated that the decision was also about squad management and trust, hinting that with more substitutions, Basadien would have featured alongside others like Thapelo Maseko. He concluded by highlighting an often-overlooked factor: the relentless football calendar. He expressed happiness with Basadien’s progress but noted the constant need for more, while also admitting that a lack of sufficient training sessions—a casualty of a packed fixture list—limits a new player’s opportunities to fully showcase his abilities and adapt to the team’s demands.

“If I had two more substitutions, of course, he would have gone through the same thing with Thapelo Maseko, not only to manage the other players but because we trust them.”“So there will be moments for Fawaaz. We are happy with his work, of course, we’re always demanding more, and he’s adapting to what we want. Also, we don’t train enough for him to show himself; it’s a problem that comes with our calendar."