Latest news with #LeboMothiba
The Star
12 hours ago
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Sundowns get the better of Ulsan in battle of the outsiders
Jun 17, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Mamelodi Sundowns FC forward Lebo Mothiba (35) passes the ball during the second half against Ulsan HD during a group stage match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) -Mamelodi Sundowns and Ulsan HD had targeted their Group F opener as their best chance to get a win on the board at the Club World Cup, with Brazil's Fluminense and German side Borussia Dortmund expected to advance from Group F. South Africa's Sundowns took all three points with a 1-0 win over the South Koreans and went top of the group after Fluminense drew 0-0 with Dortmund. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT African and Asian teams are not expected to make much of an impact at the new-look 32-team Club World Cup so points are like gold dust for the likes of the Sundowns and Ulsan. KEY QUOTES Miguel Cardoso, Mamelodi Sundowns coach: 'We prepared tactically and strategically very well, and then we found a commitment between everybody. I think it was clear we made a very wonderful first half. It was important that we could keep the pace and not stray from the game plan in the second half, so that we could score a second goal that for little details or little centimetres, we could not do.' Kim Pan-gon, Ulsan HD head coach: "We had targeted this game to win because we understand the other two teams in the group, Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund, are favourites. Our players gave their best efforts in this game and we're very proud of their efforts. Now we need to recover quickly for the next game.' (Writing by Mark Gleeson in Orlando; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
The South African
05-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Why the new Sundowns striker is yet to play
New Mamelodi Sundowns attacker Lebo Mothiba signed for the club in March 2025. Why has he not yet made the matchday squad? Speaking to the media after last Saturday's 2-0 win over Cape Town City, Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso explained that the 29-year-old has been out of action for quite some time. 'Mothiba is a high-quality player who, unfortunately, comes from a long period of absence and non-competition. [He comes] from a big injury and a long period of recovery. 'We are patient, and he is also patient,' the Sundowns mentor said via FARPost . 'He is also anxious, and we are also anxious, but we know what we have to do and we are going to do it right, so that he can join us in the future. 'It's a player that we need to treat like a crystal, very carefully. But we are willing to do it and a lot. He is a wonderful person and human being. We are happy to have him amongst us. But we need to give him all the conditions so that he can recover and help us in the future. 'But I still have expectations that he can play for us before the end of the championship. For you to understand, yesterday [Friday], the players that were not with us made a joint training session with the Diski Challenge team, and he played 15 minutes in that match, free, without conditioning,' the Sundowns tactician concluded. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
