After their goalless draw in the first leg against Zamalek in the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals, Stellenbosch defender Fawaaz Basadien said it was important to keep a clean sheet and the result keeps their hopes alive.
Steve Barker’s team, who are making their debut in continental football, put in an assured performance at the DHL Stadium last Wednesday against the defending champions, and while they would’ve enjoyed a victory, Basadien says the goalless draw is a good result, and credited his teammates for their efforts.
ALSO READ: Barker – How I Picked Up Players After Chiefs Heartbreak
Stellies Announce ‘Field Of Dreams’ Plans
“We will take that draw,” Basadien told iDiski Times.
“It’s good confidence going to the game in Egypt. I think any goal on that side puts them under huge pressure. But I think that was important for us not to concede today. And I think the credit to the boys, we achieved that today.”
There weren’t a lot of scoring opportunities, but Zamalek had a big chance with five minutes to go but a good save from Sage Stephens kept Stellies in the game.
“Ja, no, Sage has that in him,” Basadien continued.
“I mean, once you have such a goalkeeper, you can always count on him. He kept us in the game. Obviously, we didn’t want to concede, that was a plan today. And lucky, we have a goalkeeper like Sage who can make those types of saves.”
Basadien is confident that the club has players who can score away, and said that’s why that cleansheet was so important.”
“Exactly, that’s why it was important to keep a clean sheet today,” the Bafana Bafana defender added.
“And I mean, that gives us a lot of confidence going into the next game. Any goal, that side, they’re under pressure, and that’s going to be the plan.”
