Teko gets real with Basadien: 'It can't just be glimpses'

Former Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Teko Modise has opened up on left-back Fawaaz Basadien finally getting his chance at Sundowns from the start of the 2026/27 season.

Basadien only featured in 11 matches for The Brazilians in all competitions last season, with sentiments from various football legends suggesting that he needed a loan move to get his career back on track.

READ | Allende's contract works in sight?

The 29-year-old was one of the key players for his former side Stellenbosch and had already attracted the attention of former Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos, who even at some point selected him to be the captain.

However, the former Moroka Swallows wing-back has finally got his chance from the word go in the current campaign, after starting in both of Sundowns' MTN8 quarter-final win over Polokwane City and an opening Betway Premiership victory over TS Galaxy, with Aubrey Modiba eased back to action after he went to the 2026 FIFA World Cup with South Africa already carrying a niggling injury.

In a new-look Masandawana system, Basadien often cuts inside to become part of the midfield and although Modise recognized his ball-playing capabilities, 'The General' believes the 29-year-old has a lot to do defensively to give Modiba and Divine Lunga competition.

"We have players who are capable of taking the initiative on the pitch and to see that freedom to play proper football, of course it looks good when you get inside the box as a left-back and you miss an opportunity but we always have to criticize you when you have to defend," Modise said on The Pitchside Podcast.

READ | "This is the test" -- Gaxa dares Chiefs to prove themselves against Sundowns

"I just want to see him grow man, he needs to play better, I mean he has been at Sundowns for over a season now and it is his chance, he has to create some sort of competition between him, Lunga and Modiba.

"He's so comfortable on the ball. It can't just be glimpses. I know him, I know he is just capable, he just needs to be consistent. Being at Sundowns you know how limited it is for you to mess up, because somebody is gonna come in and play better, so we want to see more of those, also he is good at set-pieces, he's got a good left foot," Modise added.

Kaynak: Kick Off. Telif hakkı kaynak yayına aittir; buradaki metin özet/atıftır.

Orijinal haber: https://www.kickoff.com/psl/mamelodi-sundowns/teko-modise-s-challenge-to-fawaaz-basadien