No Basadien, no problem, says Barker after Mdaka shines

AFTER a transfer season that saw another round of headline departures with Sihle Nduli and Fawaaz Basadien, the spine of Stellenbosch FC last season, departing for Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns respectively, the mood surrounding the Winelands club was a muted one heading into the new campaign.

- ZAAHIER ADAMS

Supporters were becoming increasingly frustrated at chief executive Rob Benadie, owing to a perceived lack of ambition, especially after the team had finished third for the second consecutive season in the Bet-way Premiership and achieved a historic Caf Confederation Cup semifinal place at its first attempt.

But yet here we are again, and Stellies have one foot in the MTN8 final - what would also be for the second successive season - after downing Eric Tinkler’s Sekhukhune United 2-0 in the first-leg semifinal at the Danie Craven Stadium on Saturday evening.

It was not just the emphatic nature of the performance that confounded the critics, but rather the way previous fringe players have stepped up to fill the breach left by the departing stars.

None more so than 20-year-old left back Omega Mdaka. The Kaizer Chiefs Academy graduate has seamlessly filled the gaping Basadien hole with aplomb down the left touchline.