logo
Komphela vows to maintain Sundowns' style at Club World Cup

Komphela vows to maintain Sundowns' style at Club World Cup

The Citizena day ago

'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.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Bavuma reflects on the next chapter of his 'interesting story'
Bavuma reflects on the next chapter of his 'interesting story'

TimesLIVE

time3 hours ago

  • TimesLIVE

Bavuma reflects on the next chapter of his 'interesting story'

South Africa and Australia are revelling in just being here. Test cricket's biggest stage, Lord's, the World Test Championship England ain't here. No wonder Temba Bavuma and Pat Cummins looked so chilled yesterday. For Bavuma, this might be bigger than it is for Cummins. The Australian captain has celebrated many successes, lifted both the Test mace and the 50-over World Cup and he can draw comparisons like he did on Tuesday about which one means more. 'Personally, I think that the 2023 World Cup title is going to be tough to beat. But this is a good one,' Cummins remarked. Bavuma and South African cricket don't have that luxury. 'For us to be regarded as a top cricketing nation, we've got to be in these positions where we can go for silverware,' he said. 'Obviously, getting over the line is part of the whole story. And I think for this bunch of players, for this group, for Shukri, I think it'll be a massive feather in our cap.' 'We always speak about excellence. We always speak about doing something special for the country and also for each other. So here's another opportunity for us to do that.' Dark clouds hung over Lord's on Tuesday morning as a handful of Proteas players, excluding Bavuma, had an optional training session. Only Kyle Verreynne and David Bedingham of the starting line-up decided to have a hit. Part of coming to England early was to allow the players to get accustomed to conditions and do the bulk of their work in Arundel. There's an emotional element to all of this that Bavuma explained was critical to manage. 'A lot of preparation has been about understanding what the occasion is about being at Lord's.' 'From a motivation point of view there is not much that I can do. For us now, it's the fact of playing the game, not to get caught up in the story and what's to be. We accept and understand it will be tough to play against Australia. The time for emotion and the stories are things we have to put behind us, it's time to be ready to play what's in front of us.' As is the case for the captains it's been a busy few days in the build-up — both were at an ICC event on Monday night where seven players, including Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla were inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. Bavuma's story — the childhood games in the streets of Langa, adjusting to being at private school, the challenges of being the first black African batter in the Proteas team and then the captaincy were all subjects he touched on again. 'I try to focus on the cricket as much as I can, not to get drowned by the emotional side of it. But it is important, it's a thing, I try to soak it inasmuch as I can, in that moment and then switch to playing mode. 'My story is an interesting one, a beautiful one in a lot of ways and hopefully there are more happy ones within it.' Bavuma in 2025 is by his own admission a very different player to the one who made his debut in 2014. He was reluctant back then to explain with depth too much about his background. 'I can speak about it openly now, without much anxiety. Four or five years ago, I probably wouldn't have answered the question.' 'I look at it with a lot more gratitude now. It's a part of my journey, unique to me and I guess it comes with me being the first in a lot of things.' By the time the Proteas's training session had ended and Bavuma hopped on the bus to go back to the team's hotel, the sun popped out. The next chapter of Bavuma's tale is one he admitted included a dream where it shone on him as he lifted a trophy for South Africa. 'It would be a special moment, not just for myself, for the team, but also for the people back home. It would be nice to have it be a part of the story.'

Labuschagne to open for Australia in WTC final against South Africa
Labuschagne to open for Australia in WTC final against South Africa

Eyewitness News

time3 hours ago

  • Eyewitness News

Labuschagne to open for Australia in WTC final against South Africa

LONDON - Marnus Labuschagne will fill Australia's problem position of opening batsman in the World Test Championship final against South Africa, captain Pat Cummins announced Tuesday. Reigning champions Australia have struggled to plug the hole at the top of their order left by the retirement of David Warner 17 months ago. Steve Smith was promoted but only lasted four Tests before dropping back down to four and giving Nathan McSweeney a chance. McSweeney struggled against India late last year, with teenager Sam Konstas thrust into the side during the home series. He scored a blazing 60 on debut, but was less effective in the next Test and was jettisoned in favour of Travis Head for Australia's tour of Sri Lanka. But with Head reverting to five, Labuschagne, best known as a number three, has been promoted to open for the first time in his Test career. The 30-year-old, who has not scored a Test century for nearly two years, will form a first-wicket partnership with Queensland teammate Usman Khawaja, while the fit-again Cameron Green returns at number three following back surgery. "Cam Green, the last few weeks, he's had coming back in great form, we thought he deserves a spot somewhere in the batting line-up," Cummins said on the eve of the final. "We thought three probably suits him best. "And then with Marnus moving, we thought it's one spot up, it's not too different to batting at three. He's done well here in England in the past." - 'Unfortunate' Boland - Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has been selected ahead of Scott Boland, with all-rounder Beau Webster included to provide back-up overs given Green is still not fit to bowl. Boland took 10 wickets in his last Test as Australia defeated India in Sydney to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and secure a spot in the WTC final. But he has never played at Lord's, where Hazlewood, only recently returned from a shoulder problem in the Indian Premier League, has taken 13 wickets in three Tests. "There are some guys where you genuinely say, you've done nothing wrong, don't change a thing and that's Scotty," said fellow paceman Cummins. "He is just really unfortunate to miss out." The match, starting on Wednesday, is only the third WTC final but Cummins said: "It's a trophy we've spoken a lot about over the last couple of years." "Test cricket is my favourite format," added the skipper, who also led Australia to 50-over World Cup glory in 2023. "You've got to basically win in all different conditions to make it into this final. If we can retain that mace, that's a pretty awesome thing for this team." Australia team: Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wkt), Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

Rivals overtake Kaizer Chiefs in race for Mamelodi Sundowns star
Rivals overtake Kaizer Chiefs in race for Mamelodi Sundowns star

The South African

time3 hours ago

  • The South African

Rivals overtake Kaizer Chiefs in race for Mamelodi Sundowns star

Kaizer Chiefs are still searching the market to add some top attacking talents to their side for next season. Chiefs have struggled for goals in the past three seasons and missed out on the top eight again last season. There have been quite a few attackers linked with Chiefs going into the next season. This as a sign of what they're trying to fix in the final third. Amakhosi have seen the likes of Fiston Mayele, Etiosa Ighodaro, Robert Polievka mentioned as strikers. In the wingers department Oswin Appollis, Elias Mokwana, Mihlali Mayambela and Keletso Makgalwa have been touted. Another player who was also linked with Chiefs not too long ago was Mamelodi Sundowns star Thapelo Maseko. The player has not had the best of times since joining Masandawana, getting very limited game time so far. His situation took an even worse turn after being left out by the side for their FIFA Club World Cup exploits. The rumours of Maseko joining Chiefs have gone quiet recently and its now his former side SuperSport United being mentioned. According to Soccer-Laduma , talks of a return Matsatsantsa are at an advanced stage! 'SuperSport United wanted him initially on loan in January before they got Lebohang Maboe but things didn't work out that time. Now they are working on a permanent deal for Maseko and apparently it's believed that it's imminent,' said a source to the same publication. A well placed source also told the same publication that Maseko was no longer in the Sundowns plans. 'You see those players who went to the USA for the FIFA Club World Cup are the core of Sundowns. Their contracts and future is safe. Thapelo Maseko was left behind so that he could finalise his move back to SuperSport United and now it's believed that the deal is imminent,' said the source. Chiefs fans would you still like your club to try sign Maseko? Let us know by clicking on the comment tab. Or by emailing info@ or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. You can also follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store