Neo Maema has come out with words of comfort for the Mamelodi Sundowns players left behind for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Sundowns left late afternoon of Sunday on a chartered flight and are already in the United States of America, where they will start their campaign in Group F next week.
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Several players, who included Kegan Johannes, Jody February, Matias Esquivel, Lucas Suarez, Zuko Mdunyelwa, Thapelo Maseko, Kobamelo Kodisang, Sanele Tshabalala, and the injured Asekho Tiwani were amongst those that didn’t travel.
"It is another adventure and a new experience, and we are playing against the best clubs around the world," noted Maema just prior to departure on Sunday, before he was asked about being in the travelling squad on the back of having had limited minutes.
"I always knew that I would make the squad.
"It is not being arrogant.
"I feel like this is the work of players that were here two years ago when we qualified for the Club World Cup because that is when we qualified.
"When you are still at the team, you deserve to eat the fruits of the work that you have put in.
"With making the squad, I’m happy and obviously disappointed for the ones that didn’t make it.
"But then this is competition, and this is a big club.
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"I feel for them because they are my brothers.
"I’m not going to mention anything about my future at the club because I’m still a Sundowns player," says Maema.
Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
