Mamelodi Sundowns’ new signing Fawaaz Basadien has revealed his main motivation for signing for the club after completing his transfer from Stellenbosch FC.
Basadien’s arrival was officially confirmed on Saturday after Sundowns reportedly triggered his buyout clause, beating Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates to the defender’s signature, and he has wasted little time in expressing his targets at his new home.
In a quickfire question and answer session, Basadien was asked how he can describe himself, terming himself “humble,” while revealing that Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo is his football idol.
Why did Basadien pick Sundowns?
The left-back then called former Sundowns midfielder Teko Modise his favourite player at the club while picking Lucas Robeiro as the best from the current squad and the one he is looking forward to playing alongside the most.
Asked about what drove him to Sundowns, Basadien was straightforward with his answer, saying: “trophies,” while revealing that his best football attribute is passing which he wants to bring to his new team.
Basadien has joined Sundowns after three successful years at Stellenbosch, having joined the Cape Winelands side ahead of the 2022-23 campaign and went on to make 111 appearances across all competitions.
Defender became a star at Stellenbosch
During that time, he contributed eight goals and 18 assists from left-back, where he played an important role in helping Stellenbosch win the 2023 Carling Knockout, achieve back-to-back top-three finishes in the Betway Premiership, and reach the CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals.
His performances during the 2024-25 season notably saw him win the club’s Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season awards, while he is also a nominee for the league’s Goal of the Season accolade.
Basadien established himself as a Bafana Bafana star, earning five caps for the national team, and was part of the squad that qualified for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
