After Bafana Bafana secured their long-awaited return to the FIFA World Cup, a former Stellenbosch FC player believes two Mamelodi Sundowns stars should consider loan moves to improve their chances of making the final squad for the global tournament.

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Struggling for Game Time at Mamelodi Sundowns
Big Ambitions Require Bold Decisions

Bafana booked their place at the 2026 World Cup their first appearance since 2002 after a strong qualifying campaign in Group C. But for Fawaaz Basadien and Jayden Adams, the road to selection for Hugo Broos’ final squad could hinge on more regular playing time.

Struggling for Game Time at Mamelodi Sundowns

Basadien currently finds himself as the third-choice left back at Chloorkop, behind Aubrey Modiba and Divine Lunga. Meanwhile, Adams has struggled to replicate the form that earned him a move to Sundowns in January last year, resulting in his omission from recent national team camps.

Former Stellenbosch winger Diego Brown believes a temporary move could be the right solution.

“For Fawaaz and Jayden, it would be a no-brainer to take a loan move in the next window to get some game time under their belts,” Brown told Soccer Laduma. “Both came from lots of playing time at Stellenbosch to limited playing time at Sundowns. They were key players there.”

Big Ambitions Require Bold Decisions

Brown acknowledged that their transfers to Sundowns made sense, given the natural ambition of professional footballers to compete at the highest level. But with the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup on the horizon, he stressed the importance of consistent minutes on the pitch.

“It’s normal for them to chase big moves. But we need to look at their situation now. These are major tournaments that any player would want to be part of. For their dreams and aspirations, a loan move would give them the best chance to represent their country.”

As Hugo Broos begins shaping his final World Cup squad, increased game time for players on the fringes could prove decisive in their hopes of donning the national jersey on football’s biggest stage.