HERMAN GIBBS
Stellenbosch FC were in cruise control as they rode roughshod over the hapless eSwatini visitors Nsingizini Hotspurs, who bowed out of the CAF Confederation Cup preliminaries with a 5-0 second leg thrashing in Durban on Saturday.
Last week, the teams were in action for the first leg, and Stellenbosch ran out 3-0 winners. After Saturday’s clash, Stellenbosch advanced to the second preliminary round 8-0 on aggregate. They will play Confed Cup 2018 finalists AS Vita, the Congolese giants, on September 13 at home and a week later away.
A blow-by-blow account of yesterday's #TotalEnergiesCAFCC victory over Nsingizini Hotspurs ↓
Stellenbosch put in an emphatic performance, with successive clean sheets, despite playing without Ivorian defender Ismail Toure, who is linked with an exit from the club.
The defender, who has been a rock in the Stellenbosch rear guard, is desperate to secure a move to Europe before the end of this transfer window.
Coach Steve Barker said it was best to rest Toure, as he copes with the possibility that an overseas club may want to sign him. There is interest from local clubs but Barker said the club will only entertain offers from abroad.
“At this stage, Toure’s situation is a difficult one. Hopefully an offer comes along before the European transfer window closes at the end of August,” said Barker.
“He’s got ambitions and that’s where he desperately wants to go. At this stage nothing has materialised. Well, if the window closes and nothing has materialised, obviously he will have to get on with things.
“For now, we felt it was the type of opposition and type of game that we wanted to play that we didn’t need to burden him with further stress. I’m sure by this time next week we’ll have a clear indication of the way forward.”
In light of the big-money transfers of Iqraam Rayners, who signed for Mamelodi Sundowns, and Deano van Rooyen, who made the switch to Orlando Pirates, it’s unsurprising that dollar signs could be clouding the vision of players like Toure.
Rather surprisingly, the Stellenbosch FC hierarchy has been hit with a second transfer request by another standout player, Fawaaz Basadien. He has been on Kaizer Chiefs’ radar for some time and they have made offers for him.
However, the offers have not been acceptable to Stellenbosch and the player has not secured a move to the Soweto glamour club. Basadien’s agent Basia Michaels has confirmed that the player has requested a transfer before the transfer window closes.
Stellenbosch FC CEO Rob Benadie said the club will do everything possible to hold onto the defender.
“I trust in Fawaaz Basadien as a player, as an individual to be the professional that he is. And we have seen that in the past two games.”
“Fawaaz is a consummate professional. Yes, there’s an offer from Kaizer Chiefs but we improved his contract recently,” said Benadie.
“He’s still contracted to Stellenbosch FC and we want to keep him. He is a fantastic player and we don’t want to go backwards with our squad.
“We want to continue and produce similar performances as we did last season. Fawaaz is very important to us and he knows and understands that.
“There will always be pressure from the press and other clubs for our players because we are doing well now. But I trust in Fawaaz as a player, as an individual to be the professional that he is. And we have seen that in the past two games.”
Basadien was one of three players in the starting XI withdrawn at half-time against Hotspurs on Saturday. The replacements took the side from a 2-0 half-time lead to an eventual 5-0 win.