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Soccer News of Thursday, 9 March 2023

Source: www.mynigeria.com

Former Ajax star names Bassey's ideal role

Ajax defender, Calvin Bassey Ajax defender, Calvin Bassey

Former Ajax defender Sonny Silooy believes Nigerian defender Calvin Bassey is a better player when deployed as a centre-back than in the left-back position.

The 59-year-old who won 25 caps for the Dutch national team expressed his excitement with Bassey's performance on his return to the starting eleven as Ajax beat NEC Nijmegen 1-0 in the Dutch Eredivisie at the Johan Cruijff Arena on Sunday.

Bassey was impressive at the heart of defence as he formed a formidable partnership with Dutch international Jurrien Timber for the full 90 minutes.

The 23-year-old was adjudged Man-of-the-Match after the game and Silooy is confident that the Super Eagles defender can become one of the best defenders in the Eredivisie and Europe at large.

“Bassey has found his place at Ajax. He now knows what has probably been made clear to him, that he has to take a ball and play it. He can become one of the best defenders in the Netherlands. Let’s start with that, maybe from Europe,” Silooy told De Telegraaf as quoted by Daily Star.

“He is of course much better centrally than on the left, where he also played when Ajax was not in the best period. He just needs to learn to look ahead sooner when danger threatens.

Bassey joined the Dutch champions last summer for a reported fee of £19m from Glasgow Rangers.

WDN