Mamelodi Sundowns defender Keanu Cupido showed off a special souvenir that he received at the FIFA Club World Cup from his Brazilian idol.
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Masandawana defender Keanu Cupido has been reminiscing over his memorable Club World Cup experience with his club in June.
Cupido starred in all three of Sundowns' Group F encounters against Ulsan HD, Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense, with the match against the Brazilian giants proving to be extra special for the ex-Cape Town City baller.
Cupido swapped jerseys with Chelsea and Brazil legend Thiago Silva after Downs' goalless draw with Fluminense, who went on a special run to the semi-finals of the competition.
The 27-year-old took to Instagram to look back on the unforgettable moment with Silva, sharing a gallery of snaps of himself wearing Silva’s number 3 jersey as well as a pair of yellow PUMA boots he received from the centre-back.
"That moment, I do not even have the right words. Growing up, Thiago Silva was everything to me. I studied how he defended, how he read the game and how he led," shared Cupido on his moment with Silva.
"I even named my son after him. So, to not only share the pitch with him but to swap jerseys, it was the biggest moment of my career so far. I looked at that jersey after the match and realised how far I had come,” he told the club's magazine.
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"Being selected to start every game at a tournament of that magnitude was a tremendous honour. I felt a deep responsibility to justify the coach's faith in me, not just through my performance, but also in how I conducted myself on and off the pitch," said Cupido to Sundowns Magazine, in a feature on their Club World Cup issue.
"Wearing this jersey in front of a global audience felt surreal. Before every game, I reminded myself that this was not just about me; it was about representing a club that consistently pushes boundaries and strives to be the best in Africa and beyond," added Cupido on representing Downs on a major stage.
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