Mamelodi Sundowns made a grand departure for the Fifa Club World Cup in the US at OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday afternoon. Sundowns’ players were clad in new, colourful tracksuits specially designed for the tournament, while the technical teams wore sleek grey attire.
Head coach Miguel Cardoso stood out in a knitted hat featuring the South African flag — a symbolic and impeccable choice from the Portugal-born manager. It reflected both the team’s and his readiness to carry the nation’s hopes on the global stage.
Sundowns have been a beacon of hope for South African sport, coming agonisingly close to lifting the CAF Champions League title just a week ago. However, their aspirations were dashed at the final hurdle, losing the second leg 2–1 to Pyramids in Cairo, and the tie 3–2 on aggregate.
The narrow defeat stunned the Yellow Nation and the country at large, especially given that the club last won the continental crown nine years ago, despite dominating the domestic league for the past eight seasons.
Speaking to the media prior to departure, Sundowns’ vice-captain Ronwen Williams reflected on how the team have dealt with the disappointment in Cairo.
“I think the most important thing to do was to reflect,” Williams said. “Immediately after the game, we had our chats. But after that, it was important to stay away from each other. We’ve played so many games this season and travelled extensively.
“So, these five days away from one another were important to re-energise and get the spark back. It was hard to accept that defeat — but we had to go again.”
Williams acknowledged that the team would have arrived at the Club World Cup with greater confidence had they secured the African title, but that now they need to dig deep.
“We would be going with that confidence if we had won the African crown. But now, we need to dig deep because we didn’t win,” he explained.
“It was probably the hardest defeat of my career — and the team’s as well. We sacrificed a lot and worked so hard to get there. Everyone thought we’d get over the line.
“We have to go again. No one is going to do it for us — we need to man up. People are on holiday, and we are on another flight.
“That’s how amazing it is to be at Sundowns — they always focus on the next competition. As tough as it is, we enjoy it. It’s really amazing!”
Sundowns certainly seem to relish the pressure of competing in multiple tournaments. Their smiles at OR Tambo, where they posed for photos with supporters, were a testament to their resilient spirit.
This will be only their second appearance at a Club World Cup since their debut in Japan in 2016, but stage fright is not expected. The Brazilians plan to stay true to their footballing identity.
“We need to be ourselves and be true to our identity. We don’t want to get there and start changing things,” said Williams. “We want to play our football, and we believe we have enough capacity to get out of the group. That would be massive.”
Sundowns are in Group F alongside Ulsan Hyundai, Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense — formidable opponents on the world stage. But confidence within the South African champions remains high.
“When you look at our group, there are big names, and it will be tough,” Williams concluded. “But we believe we can do well, reach the next round, and show the world who Sundowns are.”
Should they advance, Cardoso’s flag-knitted hat may become more than just a fashion statement — it could come to symbolise a historic chapter in the club’s journey.
