Photo Credit: Mamelodi Sundowns
Mamelodi Sundowns first-choice goalkeeper Ronwen Williams has said the South African champions relish the prospect of facing Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
The Bafana Bafana star spoke to Sundowns media after the group stage draw saw the South Africans sharing company with Bundesliga giants Dortmund, Fluminense from Brazil and Ulsan HD of South Korea.
Williams said they are looking forward to interesting battles against their Group F opponents, describing the Brazilian club Fluminense's playing style as similar to that of the Betway Premiership holders.
“It is a wonderful group. We have similar traits to Fluminense. Tashreeq (Matthews) will be extremely happy to see Borussia Dortmund and Ulsan from Korea will be tough. We can’t wait for the Club World Cup to start,” he said.
Dortmund star Julian Brandt has since told his club’s website that the tournament offers them a chance to test themselves beyond European opposition.
"Football is not only played in Europe but all over the world," Brandt told his club’s website.
Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin said he was excited that they would line up against teams he hardly knows such as the Betway Premiership serial winners.
“We will face three very interesting opponents that we don't yet know anything about, with the exception of Fluminense. That will of course change before the start of the tournament but, irrespective of that, we want to get through the group stage and lay the foundations for a successful tournament in these three games," he said.
Taking his turn, Dortmund managing director Carsten Cramer said: "This is an interesting and diverse group that will give us new experiences. That's exactly what makes a tournament like this so interesting."
"When do you ever play against teams from three continents in the space of 10 days? We are looking forward to it and will approach it with the utmost seriousness to reach the knockout stages."
Dortmund website described Sundowns as a top team in South Africa “with 12 league titles, they are South Africa's record champions since the league was restarted in 1996.”
The tournament, now set to take place every four years, is scheduled for the United States from 15 June to 13 July 2025.
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