Photo Credit: Mamelodi Sundowns.
Mamelodi Sundowns chairperson Thlopie Motsepe says his South African club has made history by becoming the first in Africa to welcome the FIFA Club World Cup trophy.
Motsepe said this at Chloorkop in Pretoria when he welcomed the trophy on Thursday afternoon, adding that its tour would inspire the South African football fraternity to dream bigger.
“Today, we are not celebrating Mamelodi Sundowns going to the World Cup. Today, we are celebrating the Club World Cup coming to Africa. Make no mistake though ladies and gentlemen, our players, coaches, our staff, and our supporters are all so excited to be part of this wonderful tournament and we can’t wait for the journey to begin,” FIFA media quoted Motsepe saying.
“As Mamelodi Sundowns, we are not just sharing the values of this trophy with our people, our mission is also to share the values of our people with this trophy.”
He added: “There is a saying in isiZulu that, “one hand washes the other”. So just as this trophy is going to inspire many South Africans and Africans through the prestige that it has and the incredible people that have had it in the past, we also will ensure that as it moves through our country that it carries the smiles of our young South Africans.”
Sundowns welcomed the trophy by virtue of being among the four African representatives at the competition. The trophy was on a tour of Italy over the weekend with Juventus FC uniting innovation and heritage to shine a spotlight on a symbol of the future, inspired by the past.
Sundowns will face Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund, Brazilian giants Fluminense and Ulsan HD from South Korea at the Club World Cup. The tournament, now to take place every four years, is scheduled for the United States from 15 June to 13 July 2025.
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