The Nigeria international continues to face harsh criticisms following his summer switch to the Eredivisie
Two former Netherlands internationals, René van der Gijp and Wim Kieft, have taken aim at Calvin Bassey for his purported inability to play the Ajax way.
After joining Ajax from Rangers for 23 million euros, Bassey went straight into the club’s first-team lineup.
The Super Eagles star has, however, been part of the Ajax side that has failed to fly so far this term. Bassey played in all of Ajax’s group-stage matches as the club crashed out of the UEFA Champions League.
The reigning league champions also lost to bitter rivals PSV to lose their grip at the top of the Eredivisie table.
And former PSV winger René van der Gijp, 61, is convinced that Ajax’s purchase of Bassey is part of the club’s problems, insisting that the defender is not a good fit for the Dutch giants.
“That Bassey was 23 million just thrown away,” Van der Gijp opined, as per Ajax Show Time.
“He’s a nice player for the bottom of the Premier League. You only have to defend ninety minutes in your own sixteen, and the moment you have the ball, you only have to kick it forward. At Ajax, he has to play football and that won’t work.”
Former Ajax and PSV striker Wim Kieft is also not impressed with Bassey’s output, despite conceding that the Nigeria international is not solely to blame for Ajax’s poor form.
Kieft admits that Bassey has some positive qualities, but the 59-year-old is convinced the Super Eagles defender is not an Ajax player.
“This boy is fast and physically okay, but he can’t play football. He’s so wild. That’s a bad purchase,” Kieft said, as per Voetbal.
Backed by his boss, Bassey has largely ignored the severe criticisms he has endured from all corners of Amsterdam.
The Leicester City academy product has one goal and two assists in 11 Eredivisie matches, as well as two assists in six Champions League games.
This post was last modified on %s = human-readable time difference 6:17 pm
Former Nigeria Premier Football League champions Enyimba fell to a 2-0 defeat against Al Masry… Read More
Super Eagles defender Zaidu Sanusi has been included in FC Porto's 26-man squad for their… Read More
The West African Football Union Zone B (WAFU-B) has announced Ghana as the host nation… Read More
Nigeria's Super Falcons, nine-time African champions, have begun arriving in Angers, France, ahead of Saturday's… Read More
Former German Bundesliga champions Stuttgart are eyeing a January transfer for Nigerian striker Gift Orban,… Read More
Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali delivered a man-of-the-match performance for Chippa United as they held… Read More
View Comments
Those two goat are very stupid for saying that Bassey can not play football. Racism is all you know. If Bassey should be a dutch player nationalized in Netherlands, will you come out to blab that rubbish in your mouth? Fuck you kieft and the other monkey.
Was Bassey purchased to score goals and replace the strikers and midfielders? BIASE BIASE BIASE!!!
These dutch oldies who were most likely middle of the road quality as footballers in their prime have gone about their criticism of Bassey in the most shameless way and manner. If Nigeria indeed has anything called football administrators and not just a bunch of journeymen posturing as one, they ought to call these dutch men to order. It may also be necessary for recognized Dutch football personalities to ask these guys and their likes to shut their mouths on the matter of Bassey. It is rationally unacceptable to be hearing these guys heaping the blame for the poor performance of a great club like Ajax on a 21 Year old newly signed defender. How much is USD23ml in the European football marketplace that a young defender should be penalized for the management decision of a whole club? It will be extremely difficult these individuals to defend themselves against the charge of racism when a young developing player is made the soft target of the poor run of Ajax
Any football player who is able to produce 1goal and 2assists in 11matches and 2assists in 6Champions League games is certainly a worthy player. One tree does not make a forest. This criticism probably reveals that the club's management are only trying to make a scapegoat of Bassey. Very bad!