Hugo Broos' stern warning to Sundowns' benchwarmers: 'No AFCON if you don't play'
Broos issues strong warning: Fawaaz Basadien has been dropped from the Bafana Bafana squad after struggling for regular minutes at Mamelodi Sundowns. Photo: BackpagePix
Image: BackpagePix
Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has issued a stern warning to Mamelodi Sundowns’ Jayden Adams and Fawaaz Basadien, who have not seen much action this season.
Adams and Basadien, formerly of Stellenbosch FC, have been getting selected regularly by Broos over the last year. Basadien even captained the team in Ronwen Williams’ absence during a friendly in the June international break.
However, since moving to champions Sundowns, neither player has been able to break into the first team and play on a weekly basis, which has prompted Belgian Broos to leave them out of the national team for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Rwanda.
In a warning to the duo, Broos, as quoted by KickOff, has told them they won’t be going to the Africa Cup of Nations in December if their situation does not change.
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Speaking about Adams, Broos said: “He wanted to go to Sundowns, but he doesn’t play. He should’ve stayed in Stellenbosch or chosen another option if he had another option.
“For players, it's important that you play, and not directly where you play. But you have to play, and this is not the case with Jayden now. There is a reason for it. Why is he not playing? Maybe they are not happy with him; otherwise, he should play. I mean, Teboho is always playing because he plays well.”
Broos’s frustration was not limited to Adams. He also had strong words for fellow former Stellenbosch player Basadien, whose move to Sundowns has similarly stalled his progress.
On Basadien, Broos added: “Look what is happening with Fawaaz… I don't want to say smart, but they have to look at their career, and maybe now Fawaaz has lost his place at Bafana Bafana. He will not play AFCON in December if the situation stays like that.”
Broos’s comments underline his message ahead of AFCON: consistent game time, not club prestige, will determine who makes the final squad.
IOL Sport