Mamelodi Sundowns defender Grant Kekana remains optimistic about his team’s chances in their make-or-break FIFA Club World Cup Group F encounter against Brazilian champions Fluminense on Wednesday.
At this stage of the competition, the Brazilians need a win to seal a spot in the knockout round of the competition.
Despite a thrilling 4-3 defeat to German giants Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, Sundowns earned widespread admiration for their resilient performance. They battled back from a 4-1 deficit after initially taking an early lead, showcasing their fighting spirit.
Read: Miguel Cardoso speaks on what Sundowns must do to overcome Fluminense
Both Fluminense and Dortmund lead Group F with four points from two games, with Sundowns trailing in third place with three points to their name, while Ulsan HD sit at the bottom with no points. Masandawana’s path to the knockout rounds is clear: they must secure a victory against the formidable Brazilian side.
Kekana Reflects on Dortmund Performance and Team Morale
Speaking to SuperSport.com ahead of the crucial match at Hard Rock Stadium, Kekana revealed that the team’s morale remains high despite the loss to Dortmund. When asked about his feelings after the game, given the team’s strong performance, he responded:
“Positive, because, you know, I think everyone played for the badge, but we also kept our identity against top opposition, and we were able to give them a lot of scares. Obviously, we were disappointed in the result. We go into every game trying to win, no matter who you play, but just the boys’ effort and how we carried ourselves throughout the 90 minutes made us proud.”
Testing Themselves Against Europe’s Elite
Kekana also acknowledged the challenge of facing top Bundesliga strikers but emphasized the valuable experience gained. “Yeah, I think it was definitely a test,” he stated. “But you also see how far we’ve come as South African footballers and as Sundowns, you know, because our aim is obviously to compete with the best and against Dortmund, we were afforded that opportunity. And I feel like we’re not actually far off.
We just need to take ourselves a lot more serious and believe more in the qualities that we have, because we showed it against Dortmund, what we can do when we come to this kind of stage. So, I think it’s just more of us believing in our qualities and knowing that we can compete with the best.”
He further elaborated that this realization dawned on them “more during the game, because as we grew into the game, we realised that, you know, all this thing takes is obviously effort and to be a lot more clinical. Also, when you play against these top teams, it’s always the small margins, you know? And that was our key against Dortmund. But I think we’re there. We’re there.”
The Club World Cup Experience
Reflecting on the overall Club World Cup experience, Kekana described it as “brilliant.” He highlighted the exceptional conditions and seamless travel arrangements: “I mean, the conditions are second to none. Like, even when we travel to our games, it’s bus, plane, bus, you know. So, nothing of checking in at airports and that stuff. So, it’s the whole experience. We’re all enjoying it. And yeah, this actually makes you realize that one is a professional soccer player.”
African Hopes Rest on Sundowns and Esperance
With Moroccan side Wydad Athletic Club and Egyptian giants Al Ahly already eliminated in the group stage, Mamelodi Sundowns and Tunisia’s Esperance de Tunis are the only remaining African clubs in the competition vying for a place in the knockout rounds. The hopes of the continent now rest on their shoulders.
Kick off against Fluminense is set for 21:00 SAST on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.