Bologna-owned striker names Ajax CB Bassey as the toughest opponent he faced last season 

Sydney van Hooijdonk, who is the son of Celtic legend Pierre van Hooijdonk, has named Ajax central defender Calvin Bassey as the toughest opponent he faced in the Dutch Eredivisie in the recently concluded season.

Bologna-owned Van Hooijdonk spent the whole of last season on loan at Heerenveen, and ended the campaign with sixteen goals, a tally bettered by only FC Utrecht's Anastasios Douvikas (20) and PSV Eindhoven's Xavi Simons (19).

The 23-year-old faced an Ajax team with Bassey in the lineup twice in 2022-2023, and the Amsterdam club won both games by convincing margins. 

Ajax won 5-0 at the Johan Cruijff ArenA, before thrashing the same opponents 4-2 at the Abe Lenstra Stadion.

Sydney van Hooijdonk found the net when Ajax visited Friesland, heading home in the 79th minute after winning an aerial duel against Bassey. 

Although the Super Eagles star has been criticized by fans and pundits for his lack of ball-playing skills, Sydney van Hooijdonk underlined that the former Rangers man offers pace and physicality. 

"He is often ridiculed in the Netherlands, but I think Bassey is really tough as a defender," Sydney van Hooijdonk said to Voetbal International, via Ajax Showtime. 

"I know that I am certainly not the only Eredivisie striker who thinks so. He is fast, strong and he looks good, I thought that was a really difficult match."

In thirty nine matches across all competitions in the recently concluded season, Bassey managed one goal while producing five assists. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit: ajax.nl

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