Basadien: Drawing strength from Cristiano Ronaldo to win back his Bafana spot

Drawing inspiration from the relentless work ethic of Cristiano Ronaldo, Mamelodi Sundowns defender Fawaaz Basadien has opened up about his challenging journey to break into the Masandawana starting XI and win back his spot in the Bafana Bafana set-up.

The 29-year-old, who made the high-profile switch from Stellenbosch FC, has found regular minutes hard to come by under head coach Miguel Cardoso.

With Aubrey Modiba currently the preferred choice at left-back, Basadien’s lack of game time has had significant consequences, resulting in him losing his place in Hugo Broos’s Bafana Bafana squad and missing out on the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.

Despite the setback, Basadien told the club’s Digital Magazine that he is using Ronaldo’s legendary discipline as a blueprint for his own professional revival.

‘Striving to improve like Ronaldo: Basadien On Fighting For his Place at Masandawana

“Watching him [Ronaldo] taught me the importance of professionalism, discipline, and always striving to improve; lessons I carry into my own game every day,” Basadien revealed. “Adapting to a new setup and earning your place in a team of such quality takes time. However, I understand and respect that I must fight for my place.”

Cardoso has previously noted that Basadien’s peripheral role is primarily due to Modiba’s “impressive form” rather than a lack of quality from the newcomer. For Basadien, the competition in Tshwane serves as fuel rather than a deterrent.

“I am also fully aware of the responsibility that comes with the badge,” he added. “I feel confident that my skills and experience can add value to what Sundowns want to achieve… I am fortunate to train alongside world-class teammates whose dedication pushes me to raise my standards both on and off the pitch.”