Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso explains new signing Fawaaz Basadien's lack of game time - 'He will have his opportunity like the other ones'

The former Stellenbosch captain had a good 2024/25 campaign for his club.

Fawaaz Basadien played 46 games for Steve Barker's men; despite being a defender, he scored seven goals and provided eight assists.

Mamelodi Sundowns were quick to sign him owing to his qualities.

The Bafana Bafana international has made just four appearances for the defending Premier Soccer League champions across all competitions.

Masandawana have so far played eight games, three in the MTN8, where they reached the semi-final, and eight in the PSL.

The latest outing was on Saturday in the league, where he played no part as his team beat Durban City 3-1.

Coach Miguel Cardoso has now revealed why he can't give Basadien enough playing time, at least not now.

"Fawaaz has no problem. The problem of Fawaaz are the same problem that has Divine Lunga and Aubrey Modiba, Thato Sibiya, and [Asekho] Tiwani, and that also made us give on loan Terrence Mashego," he told the media.

 "It's the quality we have in that position. Despite believing a lot in Fawaaz, we also believe in Aubrey and Divin,e and Fawaaz will have his moments.
"He just didn't play [against Durban City] because I had to decide which players are the best to take out, but not for this game, but to think about the next ones," the Portuguese continued.

"If I had one or two more substitutions, I am sure he would have gone in. There will be moments for Fawaaz. We are happy with his work. 

"He is adapting to what we want, but also we don't train a lot, which would give him a lot of opportunities to show himself. It's also a problem that comes from the calendar. The opportunities for the player to show himself are not very big. But there will be a moment when things happen. He will have his opportunity like the other ones," Cardoso concluded.

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos excluded the defender from the recent FIFA World Cup qualifiers owing to struggles at Sundowns.

If the situation does not improve, he might fail to make the 2025 AFCON squad, justifying the need for him to have a candid conversation with his club coach.