Latest news with #DelronBuckley
The Citizen
6 hours ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Sundowns receive high praise from ex-Dortmund star
'If Sundowns can take care of Dortmund's attack ... then there's an opportunity for them to win this game,' said the former Bafana and Dortmund winger. Delron Buckley believes Mamelodi Sundowns will give a good account of themselves against Borussia Dortmund at the Fifa Club World Cup on Saturday. Picture: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix Former Borussia Dortmund winger Delron Buckley believes Mamelodi Sundowns have what it takes to pull off a surprise result when they face the German giants in the FIFA Club World Cup on Saturday. ALSO READ: PSG stun Botafogo after Messi lights up Club World Cup Dortmund were held to a goalless draw by Fluminense in their tournament opener, but the Bundesliga side remain firm favourites going into the crucial Group F clash at the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati. Sundowns lead Group F Buckley, who spent four seasons with Dortmund between 2005 and 2009, has backed the South African champions to rise to the occasion. Sundowns currently lead the group with three points after edging Ulsan HD 1-0 in a tightly contested encounter on Wednesday. Sundowns will be eager to build on their strong start and secure a result that could see them progress to the next round — and Buckley is confident they can rise to the challenge. 'Not up to standard' 'When I watched the game Dortmund (against Fluminense), they were not up to standard. They didn't play the football that we know them for,' Buckley said on Radio 2000. 'You must also take note that Fluminense are also a good team and they are not a team that you are just going to walk over. I could see that Dortmund were taking strain and as the coach said that the heat was taking its toll on the players because they are not used to playing in those weather conditions in Germany. 'When they have their Bundesliga season, it's cold and it's raining. This is why I believe that Sundowns will have a chance to probably pocket three points because Sundowns are used to playing in such weather conditions. 'When I saw them (Sundowns) playing and the way they were running with (Teboho) Mokoena in the middle and (Themba) Zwane, they were running non-stop for 90 minutes in that kind of weather.' 'That is because they are used to it and if Sundowns can take care of Dortmund's attack because they have quick players up front. If they can just deal with that, then there's an opportunity for them to win this game.' The former Bafana Bafana international enjoyed a long spell in Germany, featuring for clubs including VfL Bochum, Arminia Bielefeld, Mainz 05, and Karlsruher SC. He also represented South Africa at the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups. Buckley believes the quality within the Sundowns squad, combined with their tactical discipline, means they could compete in top European leagues. 'A different level' 'Sundowns are a kind of team that has progressed in the past years and the football they are playing is on a different level. I don't think there's another club in South Africa that plays top attractive football,' Buckley concluded. 'I think the way they are playing, they can compete in the Bundesliga. When I said the level here in South Africa is third division in Germany, I didn't mean the team because if you see Sundowns when they play in the champions league, they compete on such a high level. 'The football they play is so attractive to watch that you can take Sundowns and put them in the Bundesliga or maybe Spain, and they will compete and do well. On the other hand, it's not a coincidence because it boils down to finances. ALSO READ: Lunga unfazed by underdog tag ahead of Dortmund clash 'If you have the money to buy players, if you have the finances to run a team properly and have scouts to fly to Brazil to watch training sessions and come back to implement it at Sundowns, then you are going to be a top successful team.'
TimesLIVE
7 hours ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Can Sundowns pull off an upset and beat Dortmund in the Club World Cup?
Mamelodi Sundowns take on the second-most decorated German football club, Borussia Dortmund, in the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup (CWC) group stage on Saturday at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati. Downs had a fine start to the competition, securing a 1-0 victory in the Group F opener against South Korean team Ulsan HD on Wednesday, putting them top of Group F. Dortmund drew goalless against Brazilian side Fluminense. Borussia have far more experience in international competition and compete in one of the world's top four leagues in the Bundesliga, plus regularly challenge for honours in the world's toughest continental club competition, the Uefa Champions League. They might not have had the best 2024-2025 season, finishing fourth in the Bundesliga, but reached the Champions League semifinals. It should be a mismatch between the German giants and the 2024-2025 Caf Champions League runners-up Sundowns. But Downs showed against Ulsan they have grown in international competition from their regular campaigns in the tough conditions of the African Champions League — in their only other appearance at the CWC in Japan in 2016 they lost convincingly against two Asian teams. The weather in the midsummer US, and perhaps motivation of the big European clubs for the new, expanded version of the now 32-team CWC, have seen some upsets. Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal drew against Real Madrid, Inter Miami beat FC Porto and Botafogo stunned European champions Paris Saint-Germain. Bafana Bafana legend Delron Buckley believes the Brazilians can pull off a surprise and beat Dortmund, who he turned out for in the 2000s. 'I think Sundowns can surprise Dortmund and get something out of this game,' Buckley told the Sowetan. 'They need to get their facts right about Dortmund. They must be very physical because Dortmund are a German team and are very physical, and when they're in possession, everything is quick.'
TimesLIVE
9 hours ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Buckley advises Sundowns to be physical against old team Dortmund
Bafana Bafana legend Delron Buckley believes Mamelodi Sundowns can spring a surprise against his former team, Borussia Dortmund, and advised the Tshwane giants to stick to their style of play with a lot of physicality thrown in. Sundowns and Dortmund meet in their second Fifa Club World Cup Group F clash at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday (noon in Ohio, 6pm SA time). Downs head into the clash high on morale after beating South Korean side Ulsan 1-0 in their opener on Tuesday night to move top of the pool. German heavyweights Dortmund drew 0-0 against Brazilian side Fluminense. Sundowns' win over Ulsan was the first by an African side at the newly-expanded 32-team Club World Cup in the US. 𝐀𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 🌍 Our Club Chairman, Tlhopie Motsepe, met with FIFA President Gianni Infantino. A meeting that highlights the growing impact of African football on the world stage. 🙌 Watch the full video now on our YouTube Channel.… — Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) June 19, 2025 Buckley, who made more than 50 appearances in a Dortmund shirt between 2005 and 2009, believes Downs have it in them to shock Bundesliga giants Borussia. 'I think Sundowns can surprise Dortmund and get something out of this game,' he said. They need to get their facts right about Dortmund. 'They must be very, very physical because Dortmund are a German team and are very physical and when they're in possession everything is quick. 'I think Sundowns should also play like they do in the PSL because their style of play has proven effective, so why must they change it? They must not try to sit back, they must be fearless and play their quick-passing game in tight spaces like they normally do.' 𝗡𝗢 𝗗𝗡𝗔, 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗥𝗦𝗔 🇿🇦 Congratulations to Masandawana on their first historic #FIFACWC win 🙌 Catch the @FIFACWC | June 14 - July 13 | Every game. Free. | | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld — DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) June 18, 2025 Sundowns' workaholic central midfield pairing of Teboho Mokoena and Chilean Marcelo Allende may have to put in a good shift and get stuck in if the Brazilians are to be competitive against Borussia. Downs' introduction to the old seven-team Club World Cup in Osaka in 2016 saw something of a baptism of fire, being dismantled 2-0 by host Japanese club Kashima Antlers and 4-1 by Korea's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. That the Brazilians beat an Asian team this time will spur their confidence that they are a club growing in competitiveness internationally, thanks mainly to their near-decade of strong performances in the Caf Champions League since they won it in 2016.
