BRADENTON, Fla. – From the Southern Hemisphere to sunny Orlando, Mamelodi Sundowns FC is not unfamiliar with the big stage.
The South African club is training at IMG Academy in Bradenton. Its first match is Tuesday night, June 13, at Inter&Co Stadium against Ulsan HD from South Korea. But the South African powerhouse is looking to make noise in this tournament.
“The mentality is always to be the best and to win,” goalkeeper Ronwen Williams told News 6. “We want to win everything. We want to dominate, and we want to participate in each and every tournament. We want to keep pushing the ceiling higher.”
The club has won 15 league titles in the South African Premier Soccer League. It qualified to the FIFA Club World Cup by a high ranking in the CAF, the Confederation of African Football.
“We understand that we represent not only Mamelodi Sundowns and South Africa but also Africa itself as a continent,” head coach Miguel Cardoso said. “We represent not only a particular country but a very specific culture that also has a big impact in the way that we play our game.”
Mamelodi Sundowns won the league for an eighth straight season. Known for its unique playstyle called “Shoeshine and Piano,” Williams described it similar to how the Brazilians play.
“Lot of skill and flair and creativity,” Williams said. “We love it, and wherever we go on the African continent, the fans appreciate it and love it.”
The full schedule of games in Orlando can be found here.