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By Anthony Nlebem.
Ex-Eagles stars have thrown their weight behind Nigeria internationals Calvin Bassey amid heavy criticism since he joined Ajax for a club record £19.6m (€23m) from Glasgow Rangers last July, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Bassey has come under scrutiny from Dutch legends Wesley Sneider, Rene Van der Gijp all questioning the signing of the Nigerian defender.
The 23-year-old enjoyed playing time under former manager Alfred Schreuder, starting in 16 league appearances and scoring one goal.
The defender has struggled for game time since John Heitinga took over from Schreuder.
In one of his criticisms of the Nigerian, former Dutch international Rafael van der Vaart claimed Bassey does not have the attributes to play for Ajax.
“How is someone who played for Glasgow Rangers like Calvin Bassey going to be able to lead the defense at Ajax?
“Where was the Ajax youth system? Was there no one there better than him? Because if there isn’t then you have a major problem. Sometimes it’s better if you don’t have any money because then you don’t do crazy things. Then you wait for the right moment and occasionally take a chance. Instead, they spent €23m on Bassey. Alfred Schreuder made too many big mistakes.” Van der Vaart told Daily Record.
Also, former Ajax star Sneijder had called on Ajax former manager Alfred Schreuder to bench the Nigeria international.
“You have Bassey who can’t build up, (Jurien) Timber who isn’t doing well and then you don’t have a controlling midfielder who wants to build up. Then it becomes quite difficult in the build-up and you don’t get to play football,” Dutch media outlet Soccernews quoted Sneijder.
Meanwhile, former Nigeria internationals Mutiu Adepoju, Ike Shorunmu and Dosu Joseph have come out to back Bassey noting that he is a good player.
Adepoju also noted that Ajax were convinced that Bassey was a good player before splashing the cash on him.
“If Bassey has been playing and Ajax see him as a good player, definitely he is a good player, probably at the moment, he is not having a very good time and maybe he is having some psychological problem that is affecting him, that could be the reason he is not performing well, but we should not judge that he is a bad player or not good enough, ” Adepoju told PUNCH Sports Extra.
“Anything can happen to a player that can make him not play well. Bassey has gotten to that level, definitely he is a good player, but if he is not playing well now, that does not make him a bad player. He needs to up his game and continue working hard and prove his critics wrong.”
Super Eagles assistant coach, Shorunmu says Bassy might need to adapt to the new lifestyle in Holland to keep fit.
“Before a club signed a player from another club, they have already seen him play at Rangers.
“Sometimes when a player is being criticised, we need to look at the past and present of what is going on with the player,” Shorunmu told PUNCH Sports Extra.
Dosu says though that Bassey is yet to replicate the form that made Ajax buy him for a record fee, it does not mean that the Nigerian defender is not good enough for the Dutch champions.
“Ajax saw him play for Rangers and that is why they bought him. They did not just watch him for one game, they kept watching him and they knew is a player that can play for the team, Dosu told PUNCH Sports Extra.
“Players will make a move and the move might not be a successful one, not just because the player does not know how to play, but maybe the pattern of the coach is different from what is used to. All these things take time when you join another team, it takes time and patience.
“They have seen him play and know how good he is, but his move to Ajax is not working yet, but that does not make him a bad player.
The Atlanta ’96 gold medalist however advised Bassey to remain focused and continue to work hard.
“All he needs to do is to concentrate on his training, keep on working and be determined to prove himself once he gets his opportunity.”