Cardoso discloses reason behind Basadien’s limited playing time

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has opened up on why Fawaaz Basadien is struggling for gametime at the club.

Basadien joined Sundowns from Stellenbosch FC before the start of the season and many thought he would walk straight into strating lineup given how well he had been performing for Steve Barker’s team.

However, that has not been the case for the left-back as he has been handed few opportunities with six games, but just two starts, so far this season.

Cardoso gets candid on Basadien’s struggles

Thabiso Monyane and Fawaaz Basadien vie for the ball during Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns match

Basadien has found it hard to dislodge Aubrey Modiba and Divine Lunga, who still have the trust of Cardoso, leading to calls for the defender to quit the Brazilians in search of regular playing time ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

“We brought in four new players and I think this was the smallest transfer window in the past five years for Mamelodi Sundowns,” Cardoso told the media as quoted by The South African.

“Fawaaz is obviously and I want you to understand the word I’m going to use ‘struggling' with the competition. He’s not struggling, all of them are struggling because there’s a lot of competition in the position,” added Cardoso over what has limited Basadien’s gametime.

Why is ex-Stellies star behind Lunga and Modiba?

The Portuguese coach then explained why Basadien is still behind the rest in the pecking order.

“Asekho Tiwani is also struggling, Thato Sibiya is also struggling and Divine Lunga is also struggling. And Aubrey [Modiba] is in a very good level in the moment. Let’s hope he can continue, but we never know,” he added.

“So Fawaaz’s situation is more difficult because of the level of competition that is in the position.”

It is a worrying statement for Basadien from Cardoso as the defender joined Sundowns when his stock was high, having managed seven goals and eight assists from left-back last season.

Basadien had also earned a call-up to the Bafana Bafana squad but has since lost his spot in the team and looks set to miss out on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations unless his situation changes in the next one month.