FIFA Club World Cup will make Sundowns “go harder to ensure they return” – Himoonde

Former Zambian international Hichani Himoonde believes his former club, Mamelodi Sundowns, will once again be a strong force next season on all fronts.

The former Chipolopolo defender told Fulltime Zambia website that the Betway Premiership serial champions will bounce back strongly in the 2025-2026 Betway Premiership season and in Africa.

He attributed his prediction to the South African club’s FIFA Club World Cup experience and the burning desire to participate in the next edition of the competition.

The 2012 Africa Cup of Nations-title winner told the website that he was impressed with the showing of Miguel Cardoso’s men at the world tournament held in the United States.

“It was good to see the team at the FIFA Club World Cup this year, and to see them perform in that manner against the best clubs in the world was impressive,” he is quoted saying.

Himoonde noted that collecting four points at the Club World Cup was no mean achievement for Masandawana.

“They managed to record four points out of three games, which isn’t bad for a team competing at a global stage. Believe me, this will make them go even harder to ensure that they return in the next edition of the tournament,” the Zambian added.

He said the Club World Cup experience could prove handy to the Pretoria-based team going into the next domestic season.

The Betway Premiership champions beat Ulsan FC 1-0 before losing 4-3 to Borussia Dortmund and sharing the spoils at 0-0 with Fluminense to bow out of the Club World Cup.

Himoonde signed for Sundowns in 2014 before releasing him a year later on loan to ZESCO United well before he could kick the ball in the colours of the Brazilians. The Pretoria-based heavyweights had then exhausted the quota of their foreign players.

The former TP Mazembe player joined Sundowns on a two-and-a-half year contract.