The Brazilians are set to take on Korean side Ulsan HD later this month at the Inter&Co Stadium in Group F, which also features Germany’s Borussia Dortmund and Brazil’s Fluminense
The midfielder believes Mamelodi Sundowns will emerge from the newly expanded 32-team tournament as a stronger and more refined team
“The excitement will be amazing that side, they really love football, they support so obviously it will be fully packed. It will be a nice thing for us as players to play in that stage,” Zwane said
This marks Zwane’s second appearance at the Club World Cup, having featured in the Masandawana debut campaign in 2016. The captain is adamant that they haven’t come just to make up the numbers, stressing that they won’t be pushovers against the likes of Ulsan or Dortmund
“Obviously we are gonna watch them, we’ve been watching them, they are a good team, they have good players. We respect them but we don’t fear them and yeah, we are gonna go there and play our football, try to win the game and match them in terms of quality and the pace of the game,” he added.
Get your news on the go, click here to join the News WhatsApp channel.
Speaking about Fluminense — a team from the very country Ka Bo Yellow draw inspiration from in both style and colors — Zwane hinted that this could be the matchup both sides are most eager to play.
“It’s gonna be an interesting one, they are skillful, they know football and they enjoy football. They are happy whenever they play football, so it’s gonna be an exciting game when we meet there.” He added
In a thrilling CAF Champions League final, Sundowns narrowly missed out on the coveted title, losing 3-2 on aggregate to Pyramids of Egypt just two weeks ago. The bitter defeat left the Brazilian-led team seeking redemption and a fresh start as they gear up for the FIFA Club World Cup.
With a strong squad and valuable experience from the continental campaign, The Brazilians will aim to make a significant impact on the global stage. They’ll look to regroup, refocus, and showcase their skills against top-tier clubs from around the world.
