Williams: Mamelodi Sundowns will advance from FIFA Club World Cup group

Photo Credit - Mamelodi Sundowns Media.

Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams has backed the Betway Premiership champions to advance from their group during the FIFA Club World Cup in the USA.

The Brazilians will kick off their campaign against Korean side Ulsan HD in Group F at Inter&Co Stadium. Sundowns’ group also features German giants Borussia Dortmund and Brazil’s Fluminense.

“We will be ourselves and we will play our football. we will stick to our identity. We don't want to go there and start changing things and play a different way because of the strengths of the opposition,” Williams said, as quoted by Sowetan.

“We want to play our football, and we believe that we've got enough to get out of the group. That'd be huge because when you look at the names in that group, they are big names in there. It will be tough, but we believe we will get out of it and show people who Mamelodi Sundowns are.”

The Bafana Bafana custodian further admitted that losing to Pyramids in the CAF Champions League final was still haunting the players, but the few days off they were given by the coach could help them to erase the memory.

“It's been a difficult time, having lost the Champions League final, but the good thing is that the coach gave us a few days off, five or six days. You could see today when we got back at training that the energy was back.”

“The most important thing was to reflect immediately after the game and after that it was also important to stay away from each other. I mean we've played so many games this season, we've travelled so much as well, so those five days away from each other were important to re-energise and get that spark back.”

Mamelodi Sundowns' FIFA Club World Cup Group Stage Fixtures

Tuesday, June 17 vs. Ulsan HD

• Venue: Inter&Co Stadium, Orlando, Florida

• Time: 6:00 PM (Local Time) / 12:00 AM SAST (on June 18)

Saturday, June 21 vs. Borussia Dortmund

• Venue: TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

• Time: 12:00 PM (Local Time) / 6:00 PM SAST

Wednesday, June 25 vs. Fluminense

• Venue: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

• Time: 3:00 PM (Local Time) / 9:00 PM SAST