
Komphela vows to maintain Sundowns' style at Club World Cup
'We're going to sell an African product and compete with the rest of the world,' he said.
Mamelodi Sundowns senior coach Steve Komphela has assured fans that the team will remain committed to their possession-based style of play at the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup.
Speaking ahead of the team's departure to the United States on Sunday for the expanded 32-team tournament, Komphela emphasised the importance of maintaining their footballing identity on the global stage.
ALSO READ: Sundowns' Matthews relishes Dortmund clash at Club World Cup
'This is a world cup and it's only that it's a world cup for clubs but the mandate and the theme remains the same. We're going to sell an African product and compete with the rest of the world,' he said.
'As Africans what are we bringing to the table and it should not be Mamelodi Sundowns going to the club world cup to compete but it should be an African team.
'When they profile us, they don't profile Mamelodi Sundowns only, they go deeper to profile an African athlete. The qualities, characteristics, weaknesses and strengths of an African team and then they will go deeper into the details of every individual.'
The Brazilians will kick off their group stage campaign at Inter & Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida, where they face South Korean side Ulsan HD on 17 June. They will then take on German giants Borussia Dortmund at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, before concluding the group stage against Brazilian outfit Fluminense at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.
'We can't move away from the fact that we are African and our qualities and characteristics we'll forever remain African,' Komphela added.
'As we go out there to export this culture and this sport, we're going to reflect what African football is all about. We can't be far from what Africans stand for in terms of playing the game so that's one thing we have to be mindful about when we go to the club World Cup.
'When we land in the US, they are not going to say this is a Club World Cup team, they will say this is an African team. We are African and we need to take pride in that.'
ALSO READ: Nations League victors Portugal toast Ronaldo's 'winner mentality'
The tournament gets underway in the early hours of Sunday morning with a high-profile clash between African heavyweights Al-Ahly and Lionel Messi's Inter Miami. The other African representatives are Morocco's Wydad Casablanca and Tunisia's Espérance.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


eNCA
2 hours ago
- eNCA
Chivu leaves Parma ahead of Inter Milan move
Cristian Chivu said goodbye to Parma on Monday ahead of his move to his former club Inter Milan to replace Simone Inzaghi as coach. Former Romania defender Chivu will take charge of Inter, where he won three Serie A titles and the 2010 Champions League as a player, after guiding Parma to Serie A safety in his first senior coaching job. "I thank the club, staff, players and fans for having believed in me and our project," said Chivu on Instagram. "Together we overcame obstacles and wrote a page (in Parma's history) which will remain in my heart." Parma later confirmed Chivu's departure, thanking him for dragging the club out of the relegation zone after replacing Fabio Pecchia in February. That was Chivu's first job in football since leaving Inter's youth set-up last summer. Chivu has reportedly agreed a two-year contract worth 2.5 million euros ($2.85 million) a season with Inter who have gambled on the novice coach ahead of the upcoming Club World Cup, after failing to get Cesc Fabregas from Como. Inzaghi left Inter last week in the wake of the Italians' thumping 5-0 defeat at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. Inter had been gunning for the treble but conceded the Serie A title to Napoli on the final day of the season, were knocked out of the Italian Cup by AC Milan and humiliated by PSG in Munich.


The Citizen
2 hours ago
- The Citizen
Jake White on ‘underdogs' Bulls' URC final challenge
Jake White says the Vodacom Bulls are holding a 'lotto ticket' going into Saturday's URC final against Leinster at Croke Park, and is banking on his senior players to make it count. The Bulls face a formidable Leinster side playing its first URC decider, coming off a big win over defending champions Glasgow. The two top-ranked teams in the league stage this season, the Herd boast a 4-2 record against the Irish giants in the competition, including a historic Dublin semi-final win and back-to-back Loftus Versfeld victories. White's troops left the Republic yesterday, and were scheduled to hold a recovery session in the Irish capital today as they target a maiden URC title. Also read: URC REWIND: Bulls vs Leinster 'The wonderful thing for us is that we have a lotto ticket,' said White. 'You can't win the lotto if you don't have a ticket. We have a 50% chance of winning on Saturday. That's how sport works. 'We have to travel to play an international team. It is going to be like Ireland versus the Bulls. I'm not underplaying it,' he added. 'Ireland have beaten the All Blacks and many big teams. So we have to work hard; get things to work in our favour; recover well from bumps and bruises. Then we have to play very well. 'Look at what Leinster did to Glasgow and look at what Glasgow did to us last year. They did not struggle to beat Glasgow and will be on a high now going into a final at home.' The Bulls will contest their third URC final in four seasons, but White insists that history holds little value this week. 'It is all immaterial. It is now a final,' the veteran coach added. 'For both sides it is a completely different challenge. It doesn't matter that we beat them last year in a knockout game. Read more: Lethal Leinster out to bulldoze Bulls 'I'm glad because the whole of Dublin will be rugby crazy. Our young players will experience something unique and special. I will work hard for the guys to enjoy it and be ready. People travel the world to hopefully see the underdogs win. That is what happens in sport.' White is leaning on the experience of his Rugby World Cup-winning Springboks to guide the squad through the week. 'We need our senior guys who have been there and done it to impart their knowledge. We have Willie le Roux who has won a [Rugby] World Cup, so has Marco van Staden and Canan Moodie. We also have guys who have played in finals. I want them to talk to each other about what works, and what doesn't.' The post Jake on 'underdogs' Bulls' final challenge appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

IOL News
4 hours ago
- IOL News
Maema: I earned my place in Mamelodi Sundowns' Club World Cup squad
Neo Maema departed for the Fifa Club World Cup on Sunday with Mamelodi Sundowns. Photo: Itumeleng English Independent Media Image: Itumeleng English Independent Media Neo Maema believes he had long earned his ticket to the Fifa Club World Cup — hence he never doubted he would make Mamelodi Sundowns' final squad. Sundowns jetted off to Florida, US, on Sunday to begin their preparations for the global showpiece. Maema, sporting a short blonde hairstyle, was in high spirits at OR Tambo International, even vlogging for the club's social media platform, Mamelodi Sundowns TV. The 29-year-old's outlook was refreshing, given that he has been a bystander for the team this season, featuring in only 17 of 54 matches across all competitions. Despite his limited game-time, Maema had shone for the Brazilians in the previous two seasons, contributing significantly to their success both domestically and continentally. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ As such, when coach Miguel Cardoso announced his final squad for the tournament, Maema had no doubts about securing his place. 'I always knew that I'd make the squad. It's not arrogance — I just feel this is the reward for the work done by the players who were here two years ago,' the Sundowns attacker said. 'We qualified for the Club World Cup two seasons ago, I think. So, when you're still in the team, you just have to eat the fruit of the work you've put in. So, I am happy. 'I am disappointed for the ones who didn't make it, but that's the nature of the competition. It's a big club. I feel for them because they are my brothers.' Maema's limited involvement this season has fuelled speculation about his future at Sundowns, but he remained tight-lipped on the matter on Sunday. 'I'm not going to say anything about my future at the club. I am still a Mamelodi Sundowns player,' Maema affirmed. That moment between Kabelo Dlamini, Neo Maema and Tshegofatso Mabasa was special to witness 🤩 Watch until the end 👀#SSDiski — SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) March 18, 2025 The Club World Cup will not only offer Maema a chance to buy himself more time at the club but also serve as an opportunity for Sundowns to seek some form of redemption. Sundowns missed out on the CAF Champions League crown two weeks ago, losing 3-2 on aggregate to Pyramids of Egypt in the final. That result was a bitter blow for the Brazilians, who had hoped to be third-time lucky after semi-final exits in the previous two seasons. 'It's disappointing to get close to the door, but we kept on knocking and it didn't open,' Maema said of their failed continental campaign. 'We knew it was going to be very difficult to win away. We played against a good team… and when things don't go your way, you can't play your normal football. 'It's a pain in the heart, but we have to move on. We lost out twice in a row in the semi-finals, so we don't want that to happen again. We have to bounce back quickly.' Sundowns have been drawn in Group F at the Club World Cup, alongside Ulsan Hyundai, Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense. They will open their campaign against Ulsan on Wednesday, 18 June. The Brazilians are eager to perform well on the global stage — not just to redeem themselves but also to showcase their talent to scouts from overseas clubs. 'It's disappointing, but there's nothing we can do about it. We just have to accept it and, as men, help the youngsters in the team,' Maema said. 'We have to believe that someday we will win it, but for now, we must focus on the opportunity ahead and see it as a chance for everyone to showcase their talent.'