Neo Maema believes he had long earned his ticket to the Fifa Club World Cup — hence he never doubted he would make Mamelodi Sundowns’ final squad.
Sundowns jetted off to Florida, US, on Sunday to begin their preparations for the global showpiece. Maema, sporting a short blonde hairstyle, was in high spirits at OR Tambo International, even vlogging for the club’s social media platform, Mamelodi Sundowns TV.
The 29-year-old’s outlook was refreshing, given that he has been a bystander for the team this season, featuring in only 17 of 54 matches across all competitions. Despite his limited game-time, Maema had shone for the Brazilians in the previous two seasons, contributing significantly to their success both domestically and continentally.
Neo Maema pic.twitter.com/Fs4q0888xH https://t.co/hkKT2NkgVc
— Mazola J. Molefe (@superjourno) April 22, 2023
As such, when coach Miguel Cardoso announced his final squad for the tournament, Maema had no doubts about securing his place.
“I always knew that I’d make the squad. It’s not arrogance — I just feel this is the reward for the work done by the players who were here two years ago,” the Sundowns attacker said.
“We qualified for the Club World Cup two seasons ago, I think. So, when you’re still in the team, you just have to eat the fruit of the work you’ve put in. So, I am happy.
“I am disappointed for the ones who didn’t make it, but that’s the nature of the competition. It’s a big club. I feel for them because they are my brothers.”
Maema’s limited involvement this season has fuelled speculation about his future at Sundowns, but he remained tight-lipped on the matter on Sunday.
“I’m not going to say anything about my future at the club. I am still a Mamelodi Sundowns player,” Maema affirmed.
That moment between Kabelo Dlamini, Neo Maema and Tshegofatso Mabasa was special to witness 🤩
Watch until the end 👀#SSDiski pic.twitter.com/tNuZ0ewOpB
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) March 18, 2025
The Club World Cup will not only offer Maema a chance to buy himself more time at the club but also serve as an opportunity for Sundowns to seek some form of redemption.
Sundowns missed out on the CAF Champions League crown two weeks ago, losing 3-2 on aggregate to Pyramids of Egypt in the final. That result was a bitter blow for the Brazilians, who had hoped to be third-time lucky after semi-final exits in the previous two seasons.
“It’s disappointing to get close to the door, but we kept on knocking and it didn’t open,” Maema said of their failed continental campaign.
“We knew it was going to be very difficult to win away. We played against a good team… and when things don’t go your way, you can’t play your normal football.
“It’s a pain in the heart, but we have to move on. We lost out twice in a row in the semi-finals, so we don’t want that to happen again. We have to bounce back quickly.”
Sundowns have been drawn in Group F at the Club World Cup, alongside Ulsan Hyundai, Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense. They will open their campaign against Ulsan on Wednesday, 18 June.
The Brazilians are eager to perform well on the global stage — not just to redeem themselves but also to showcase their talent to scouts from overseas clubs.
“It’s disappointing, but there’s nothing we can do about it. We just have to accept it and, as men, help the youngsters in the team,” Maema said.
“We have to believe that someday we will win it, but for now, we must focus on the opportunity ahead and see it as a chance for everyone to showcase their talent.”
