Bassey earns high praise from Dutch legend despite Fulham loss

Published on by Andrew Randa

Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey received high praise from former Netherlands international Ron Vlaar for his outstanding performance during Fulham's narrow 3-2 loss to Manchester City on Saturday.

Despite the defeat, Vlaar, who also had a successful stint in the Premier League with Aston Villa, was notably impressed by Bassey’s improvement since his time at Ajax.

Ron Vlaar impressed with Calvin Bassey vs Manchester City
Photo by IMAGO

Vlaar specifically highlighted the defender’s contribution in keeping Manchester City's prolific striker, Erling Haaland, off the scoresheet—a significant feat given Haaland's reputation as the league's top scorer.

Ron Vlaar impressed with Calvin Bassey vs Manchester City

Speaking on a football show, Vlaar expressed his admiration for Bassey’s development. “Bassey was excellent today,” said Vlaar.

“He made a huge impact in shutting out Haaland. You couldn’t see Haaland’s usual threat, and that’s a big credit to Bassey and [Fulham defender] Joachim Andersen.”

The defender, who played the full 90 minutes, showcased his defensive prowess with several key interventions.

He completed five vital clearances, four blocked shots, and a number of solid tackles, helping to keep Fulham competitive against the reigning Premier League champions.

Reflecting on Bassey’s growth, Vlaar drew comparisons to his time at Ajax during the 2022/23 season.

“At Ajax, Bassey struggled with confidence on the ball,” Vlaar explained. “You could feel the tension in the stadium every time he had possession—he lost the ball too often.

But now, at Fulham, he’s playing with full confidence. It’s great to see him thriving in the Premier League.”

Bassey was impressive against Manchester City despite loss
Photo by IMAGO

Vlaar further noted that while the Nigerian had a tough time at Ajax, his potential was clear even then. “Ajax didn’t buy him for nothing,” Vlaar said.

“It just didn’t work out there, except for a few moments. But here in England, he’s really coming into his own.”

Bassey's stellar performance against Manchester City comes ahead of his call-up to the Super Eagles squad for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Libya.

The 24-year-old has already featured seven times for Fulham in the Premier League this season and appears to be cementing his place as a key figure in Marco Silva’s defense.

Bassey earns high praise from Dutch legend despite Fulham loss

Andrew Randa

Andrew Randa is a veteran Nigerian sports journalist with over 20 years of experience covering the beautiful game across Africa. Andrew served as a Media Officer for Nigeria's U-20 Men's National Team for three years, offering a unique perspective on the future stars of Nigerian football.

Beyond reporting, Andrew is a pioneer in sports graphics creation within Nigeria. His expertise extends to sports kit design, making him a true multi-faceted talent in the African sports landscape.

Andrew's experience is vast, with collaborations encompassing prestigious names like Kickoff, SuperSport, the NFF (Nigeria Football Federation), and the NPFL (Nigeria Professional Football League)