Former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Sibusiso Vilakazi wants the club’s current crop of players to count themselves among the best and dream big heading into the FIFA Club World Cup.
The newly crowned Betway Premiership champions are pitted in Group F alongside German Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund, Fluminense FC of Brazil and South Korean outfit Ulsan.
Villa was part of the first group to qualify for the Cub World Cup with Sundowns almost a decade ago after they won the CAF Champions League.
Speaking at the announcement of Carling Black Label being Masandawana’s beer sponsor for the club world cup, Villa emphasised that Sundowns are just as good as their opponents, and they need to carry themselves as such.
“It’s a very interesting group but what I like about this tournament is that it’s champions,” said Villa.
“And we can also emphasise that Mamelodi Sundowns are champions so we can be arrogant as well. That you have to put it under your sleeves but more than anything when I look at these guys, when I look at these people, when I look at former players, I think one thing they [current generation] can do for themselves is to continue to dream. Just continue to dream, just dream this thing is yours.
“This thing is yours and the stage is there for yourselves to showcase your talent. It’s yours you can be arrogant. We need to showcase what we have and one day we need to speak out about our own talent and say that guy made it, and he came from the Southern hemisphere. So, this is it. I think one of the games will be in the AMs I hope everyone will be up watching that game and I know the boys will do the job.”
Miguel Cardoso’s charges open their account against Ulsan on 18 June (00:00), then Dortmund three days later (18:00) and conclude their group campaign against Fluminense on 25 June (21:00).
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