Mamelodi Sundowns veteran defender Grant Kekana is holding out hopes of success in the club’s last Group F game at the Club World Cup where they will need to beat Fluminense of Brazil on Wednesday to advance to the knockout stages.
Sundowns’ confidence comes from an impressive performance against Borussia Dortmund in Cincinnati on Saturday despite the fact they lost 4-3.
It means that Sundowns, who have three points after winning their opening game, must win their last group fixture in Miami against the Rio de Janeiro club to advance.
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Supersport.com spoke exclusively to Kekana on Monday at the team’s training base in Bradenton, Florida
What was your feeling after the Dortmund game given how well everyone played but still lost?
“Positive, because, you know, I think everyone played for the badge, but we also kept our identity against top opposition, and we were able to give them a lot of scares. Obviously, we were disappointed in the result. We go into every game trying to win, no matter who you play, but just the boys’ effort and how we carried ourselves throughout the 90 minutes made us proud.”
Was it a test playing against top Bundesliga strikers?
“Yeah, I think it was definitely a test. But you also see how far we've come as South African footballers and as Sundowns, you know, because our aim is obviously to compete with the best and against Dortmund, we were afforded that opportunity. And I feel like we're not actually far off. We just need to take ourselves a lot more serious and believe more in the qualities that we have, because we showed it against Dortmund, what we can do when we come to this kind of stage. So, I think it's just more of us believing in our qualities and knowing that we can compete with the best.”
Was that a realisation that you got after the game or before?
“Yeah, I think more during the game because as we grew into the game, we realised that, you know, all this thing takes is obviously effort and to be a lot more clinical. Also, when you play against these top teams, it's always the small margins, you know? And that was our key against Dortmund. But I think we're there. We're there.”
What's the whole Club World Cup experience been like?
“Brilliant, I mean, the conditions are second to none. Like, even when we travel to our games, it's bus, plane, bus, you know. So, nothing of checking in at airports and that stuff. So, it's the whole experience. We’re all enjoying it. And yeah, this actually makes you realise that one is a professional soccer player.”
And it must give you massive motivation to come back and do it again next year at the World Cup.
“Definitely, because we've had the experience, but also seen we're able to compete with people who will be up against in the World Cup. So yeah, it prepares us quite well going into next year.”
Now to Wednesday game’s, what are you expecting from Fluminense? How much do you know about them? How much do you have to study them? How important is it to study them?
“Yeah, we study all our opponents. We know that they play until the final whistle and I don't think they'll be as affected by the weather as Dortmund, because it's also pretty hot in Brazil. So, I think it's just about us analysing and planning properly for them and going toe to toe with them.
I think that's the one thing we're going to have to do, because it's either we win or we go out. Yeah, that's all. But we're motivated. All the guys, the group are motivated, and I think we saw a lot of positives from the Dortmund game and also what we need to improve on. So now we're a lot more motivated going into this one.”
Sundowns are making a name for themselves at the tournament? Did you expect that would be the case?
“I think we came into this believing that we can do something, especially if we stick to our identity, because that's what has gotten us here and for us to keep that going into the first two games was good for us, and I think that's the reason why a lot of people are talking about us now.”