BRADENTON, Fla. — This year’s FIFA Club World Cup kicks off next week. Tampa Bay will be home to South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns as they train for that tournament and work towards next year’s World Cup.
“Beautiful environment,” said Coach Steve Komphela of his first impressions of Tampa Bay. “The skies are open, blue — like South Africa.”
“In our country, it’s winter right now. So, it’s actually nice to be chasing summer,” said Mamelodi Sundowns player Neo Maema.
The team arrived from South Africa earlier this week to compete in their first FIFA Club World Cup in nearly a decade.
“Obviously, we have a bit of nerves, but we’re playing against the best clubs in the world, and we just have to apply ourselves like we know how to play football in South Africa,” said Maema.
“The most important thing is the preparation now, starting from the training ground, the meeting room, the food you eat. Those are all components that end up helping you or assisting you in your performance,” said Komphela.
The Mamelodi Sundowns’ logo. (Spectrum News/Sarah Blazonis)
That’s what Komphela said the team has found at IMG Academy, where a welcome reception was held for the team Friday evening.
IMG’s chief operating officer, Mike Milliron, said in a statement that the academy is honored to host the Sundowns. It reads in part:
“Having an international team of this caliber train on our campus is a testament to the world-class facilities, environment, and support systems we’ve built and are recognized for globally. We’ve proudly hosted elite teams and athletes from around the world and each time it reinforces IMG Academy’s reputation as the premier training destination for those competing at the highest levels.”
The FIFA Club World Cup is a revamped tournament featuring 32 teams from around the world. They’ll compete in 12 U.S. cities, including Orlando and Miami.
“We know the 32 teams who are here are top dogs of the world and therefore sometimes, must assume and embrace the challenge of being a top dog. It’s going to be quite steep,” said Komphela.
“It’s never going to be easy, but we have to compete and just put our flair and our culture into our football,” said Maema.
The Sundowns are scheduled to take on South Korea’s team in Orlando on Tuesday at Inter & Co Stadium. Komphela said they’ll be at IMG until at least June 25, but their stay could be extended if they move onto the next round of the tournament.
Sarah Blazonis
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