Former South Africa youth international Kyle Timm has cautioned Mamelodi Sundowns players from jumping at offers from international clubs which could come soon, following the side’s strong performance at the Club World Cup.
Timm, who coaches at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, has been vocal in the past about the neglect of MLS-based South Africans by Bafana Bafana historically.
Coming into the premier club football competition in the world, the Betway Premiership champions were not expected to trouble some of the heavy hitters in the group.
Instead, Sundowns beat South Korean outfit Ulsan HD in their first outing, competed strongly with German giants Borussia Dortmund before going down 4-3, and finally drew with the Brazilian side Fluminense.
The Challenges and Triumphs of Sundowns’ Journey to Europe and Beyond
“From the outside, it’s easy to say, ‘Just go to Europe,’ but if you go to Europe and things don’t work out for you, your stock drops,” Timm told Soccer Laduma.
“It’s complex; it’s not easy to just pack your bags and go to Europe. Another country, you have to adjust and all that; it’s not always going to work out, even if you’re a good player.
“Two or three years, it didn’t work out. Who is going to take you back at the same price? But I’d love to see them playing at the highest level.”
There’s no disputing that Sundowns punched above their weight, but it was also a good indicator of just how good they really are – if their eighth successive league title in a row this season did not do the trick.
After their encounter with Fluminense drew to a close, the entire Sundowns squad was seen taking part in a uniquely South African dance. It was clearly celebrating how far they had come in just their second-ever appearance at the tournament.
@Michael_Sherman
IOL Sport
