Borussia Dortmund Legend Hails Sundowns, Relish Challenge Against PSL Giants

• Borussia Dortmund Sporting Director, Sebastian Kehl, has praised Mamelodi Sundowns and expressed his excitement for their upcoming clash in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup group stage
• The Pretoria giants will face the Bundesliga giants in their second match of the competition, before taking on Brazilian side Fluminense in their final group game
• In an interview ahead of their CWW opener, Kehl confirmed that Dortmund is taking the tournament seriously, and has studied all of their opponents, including the Betway Premiership champions

Borussia Dortmund Sporting Director Sebastian Kehl has hailed Mamelodi Sundowns and he is anticipating their clash in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the group stage.

Mamelodi Sundowns will face the German Bundesliga side in their second match in the competition before battling Fluminense in the last group game.

Kehl: Dortmund legend relish challenge against Sundowns

In an interview with iDiskiTimes, Kehl admitted that Borussia Dortmund are taking the tournament serious and they've studied all their opponents including Mamelodi Sundowns.

“We’re taking this tournament very seriously,” the German side Sporting direct said.

“We’ve studied all our upcoming opponents closely. Our first match is on Tuesday against Fluminense, and of course, our aim is to win that game.

“Being part of this competition is truly exciting. Our initial goal is to advance through the group stage, that’s the most important step. After that, we’ll see which opponents we face next. It’s a very interesting group.

“We’re facing teams with different styles, strategies, and cultures, that’s what makes this tournament special. We’re eager and curious to get started.”

The challenge lies in preparing for three strong teams from three different continents, South America, Africa, and Asia, each dominant in their respective leagues. Yet, the former Germany and Dortmund midfielder remains confident they can progress and make an impact at the global event in the USA.

Observing from the sidelines as head coach Niko Kovac and his staff trained the squad, the professional environment was a testament to the high standards expected at this level.

“We keep a close eye on African football. There are many talented young players, physically strong, skilled, and very fast. Although age restrictions limit some transfers to Germany, their potential is undeniable,” he admitted.

“African players are increasingly making significant impacts in Europe, so we take scouting there very seriously. We send scouts to academies across the continent to monitor the development of promising talents.

“We’re also excited to face Sundowns, it’s been a while since we played a South African team. They’re technically very skilled and a strong side, so it will be a tough game. We’ll need to be well-prepared, but we hope to come through successfully.”

Sundowns stars urged to focus on winning the FIFA CWC

Briefly News earlier reported that Mamelodi Sundowns stars have been advised to focus on winning the FIFA Club World Cup rather than bein star struck when they come up against top European-based players.

They were told to do away with chasing the jerseys of players like Lionel Messi and others.

Source: Briefly News