Basadien Confident They Can Overcome Simba
Stellenbosch’s confident defender, Fawaaz Basadien, believes they have a strong opportunity to overcome Simba SC in the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup semi-final.
This optimism follows their firsthand observation of the Tanzanian team’s performance in the initial match.
The decisive second leg will be hosted at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday [15:00], where Stellenbosch will face Fadlu Davids’ Simba SC, who currently hold a 1-0 advantage after their victory in Zanzibar last Sunday.
The victor of this semi-final will advance to the final, where they will clash with the winner of the other semi-final between Morocco’s RS Berkane and Algeria’s CS Constantine. Constantine suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat in the first leg in Morocco, with that second leg also scheduled for Sunday [18:00].
“Simba weren’t pleased with the 1-0 scoreline, and they understand that coming here will be a tough challenge,” Basadien stated. “Therefore, we definitely have a good chance of progressing to the next round.”
He added, “Our preparations have gone well, and we are really looking forward to the game. Having experienced Simba in the first leg, we are aware of their capabilities. We are eager for the match and aiming for a positive result.”
Coach Steve Barker faces a late decision regarding the availability of captain Sage Stephens, who was sidelined due to injury in the first leg. In his absence, Oscarine Masuluke, the 2017 FIFA Puskas Award nominee, stood in goal and performed well despite conceding a goal that underwent VAR review.
Stellenbosch has navigated an unusual Confederation Cup journey, playing all their matches away from their Stellenbosch base. This includes the preliminary round opener in Durban, group stage matches in Pretoria, and further group stage and knockout games in Cape Town. Despite this travel, Steve Barker’s team has remarkably progressed to this stage of the competition.
Long-serving player Lee Langeveldt, currently the club’s third-choice goalkeeper, emphasized the significant character that this has built within the team. He noted that few anticipated their remarkable run in the competition.
“We’ve handled it exceptionally well. Our away record is something like nine wins [across all competitions], which is quite extraordinary,” said Langeveldt, who did not feature for Durban-based side Golden Arrows in the 2016/17 season. “But that reflects the type of team and the culture we’ve cultivated. Regardless of whether it’s a home or away game, we go out with the intention to win.”
Should Stellenbosch reach the final, they will become only the third South African club to achieve this feat in the Confederation Cup, and the first since Orlando Pirates lost to Berkane on penalties in the 2021/22 season.
