Sundowns star Tashreeq Matthews eager to face former club Borussia Dortmund

Tashreeq Matthews. Photo credit: Mamelodi Sundowns

Tashreeq Matthews is thrilled about Mamelodi Sundowns' upcoming FIFA Club World Cup campaign in the USA, especially with the prospect of facing his former club, Borussia Dortmund.

Since returning to South African football 18 months ago, Matthews has quickly become a pivotal player for Sundowns, contributing significantly to their consecutive league titles and earning a spot on the global stage.

Sundowns, making their first appearance at the tournament since 2016, are drawn in Group F alongside Ulsan Hyundai, Borussia Dortmund, and Fluminense. Matthews has a deep connection to German giants Dortmund, having spent seven years in their junior ranks.

The 24-year-old shared his excitement as the Brazilians departed for the USA.

“Some of the players I played with are on loan, and others have been transferred to other teams, but I think there are still one or two who remain with the team,” Matthews explained at OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday. “The guys who still work there, I am still in contact with them. So, I am very excited. It’s always exciting for me to play against a former team.”

Matthews' ability to adapt swiftly to Sundowns' star-studded squad, despite the existing strong partnerships, has been particularly noteworthy. “When I arrived, I saw how much of a team we are at Sundowns,” he remarked. “The brotherhood we have in the changing room makes us stronger.”

While his initial 18 months at Sundowns have been impressive, the team's recent CAF Champions League final loss to Pyramids was a bitter pill for Matthews and the squad to swallow. The two-legged affair ended in a 3-2 aggregate defeat. Matthews was substituted in the first leg and missed a crucial close-range shot in the second, which could have altered the outcome.

Nevertheless, the team has put the Champions League disappointment behind them and is now focused on the global showpiece, aiming to improve on their 2016 group stage finish.

“Obviously, it was a disappointment,” Matthews reflected on the final loss. “It was very difficult after the match, and it’s still tough even now. The first few days after were the worst – but at the end of the day, we still have another competition that we are going to play in, and we will try to do our best to do well.”

Despite being considered underdogs in Group F against Ulsan, Dortmund, and Fluminense, Matthews remains unfazed.

He insists that Sundowns earned their place through merit and that their opponents would underestimate them at their peril. “It will be very difficult. If you look at these teams, we’ll be competing against the best clubs from all around the world,” Matthews concluded. “So, it will be difficult for any team.”