Sky is the Limit for Downs' Basadien

WHEN the Soweto giants Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs come calling, there are few players that can deny the temptation.

- ZAAHIER ADAMS

So, when Fawaaz Basadien finally completed his move to Mamelodi Sundowns, over the past weekend as per Independent Media’s exclusive earlier in the week, it would have hurt the traditional big guns of South African football.

But the reality was that the biggest competitor to Sundowns for Basadien’s signature had actually hailed from North Africa, according to the Bafana Bafana wing-back’s agent Basia Michaels of QT Sports.

Furthermore, Basadien was keen to explore the prospect of moving abroad. Having interviewed Basadien regularly over the past 12 months, he spoke openly about how much he enjoyed Stellenbosch FC’s Caf Confederation Cup adventures last season, particularly the trip to Cairo when Stellies overcame North African giants Zamalek in the quarterfinals.

It was Basadien that convinced the club officials to make the trip to the ancient Pyramids to get a greater feel of the culture and history of the Egyptian capital.

It’s therefore no surprise that Michaels stated: "The strongest bid in North Africa came from Al Masry, which was a club Fawaaz was keen to join. | think he himself had done his research and he was excited to join them. But at the end of the day, we go where we put pen to paper and where the price is paid."