Dylan Kerr warns players to think twice before moving to big clubs

Basadien, who impressed at Stellenbosch last season and earned regular Bafana Bafana call-ups - including captaining the squad when World Cup-bound Sundowns players were unavailable - has found game time hard to come by at the Tshwane giants, making just seven appearances across all competitions this season.

Primarily competing with established internationals such as Aubrey Modiba and Divine Lunga, Basadien's experience illustrates Kerr's point: signing for a big club does not guarantee regular football.

Kerr, who converted Basadien from midfield to left-back during his time at Moroka Swallows, believes players must weigh the risks carefully before making such moves.

"There are so many players at these big clubs. I advised my former Black Leopards player, Lesedi Kapinga, not to sign for Sundowns because he wouldn't play regularly," Kerr told Soccer Laduma.

"The lifestyle may be tempting - you can buy a new car or a house - but football development suffers if you're not on the pitch. How many games has Kapinga played in the last three years? Maybe 20? Players need to be better than what Sundowns already have if they want to feature consistently."

Kerr also criticized Sundowns' reputation for recruiting in-form players from other teams without necessarily giving them the minutes to maintain their development.

He cites Kapinga's stalled career as an example, noting that despite his talent, the lack of regular football has hindered his progress.

Basadien's current challenges serve as a cautionary tale for South African players contemplating moves to the country's biggest clubs.