A South African coach based in the United States has revealed the biggest challenge Mamelodi Sundowns players have of going overseas, even though they dominate the Betway Premiership.
Sundowns are largely retaining their best players season in and season out, even though they have won the Betway Premiership for eight years in a row and have been competing at a good level in the CAF Champions League.
The FIFA Club World Cup has presented a window of opportunity for the Brazilians players to be tested against worthy opposition, as Kyle Timm, a coach for USL Championship side Lexington Sporting explained why Masandawana players don't easily attract scouts overseas.
"As South Africans we know Sundowns can compete with a lot of good teams but people on the outside don't understand how that translates," Timm discussed the matter with Soccer Laduma, after following Sundowns closely in their Club World Cup games.
Sundowns are largely retaining their best players season in and season out, even though they have won the Betway Premiership for eight years in a row and have been competing at a good level in the CAF Champions League.
The FIFA Club World Cup has presented a window of opportunity for the Brazilians players to be tested against worthy opposition, as Kyle Timm, a coach for USL Championship side Lexington Sporting explained why Masandawana players don't easily attract scouts overseas.
"As South Africans we know Sundowns can compete with a lot of good teams but people on the outside don't understand how that translates," Timm discussed the matter with Soccer Laduma, after following Sundowns closely in their Club World Cup games.
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"When they see Sundowns winning the league eight years in a row, it's almost as if 'You're playing against nobodies' that's how it looks from the outside for some of these people.
"When they watch games or highlights and the quality of the opposition is not high, that's where it gets difficult for scouting purposes. These are comments I hear from scouts, coaches and clubs this side (in America).
"They don't just look at a player (from Sundowns) and go, 'Oh he scored 15 goals or whatever' they look at the opposition, why is the defending so poor (etc), they are assessing everything (on the quality of the opposition)," Timm explained.
"When they see Sundowns winning the league eight years in a row, it's almost as if 'You're playing against nobodies' that's how it looks from the outside for some of these people.
"When they watch games or highlights and the quality of the opposition is not high, that's where it gets difficult for scouting purposes. These are comments I hear from scouts, coaches and clubs this side (in America).
"They don't just look at a player (from Sundowns) and go, 'Oh he scored 15 goals or whatever' they look at the opposition, why is the defending so poor (etc), they are assessing everything (on the quality of the opposition)," Timm explained.
READ: 'It's Heartbreaking To Watch Sundowns At Club World Cup'
"That's the biggest challenge. For me it's perfect Sundowns played big games against Dortmund, Fluminense, good teams, this is important for South African football," the young coach added.
Former Sundowns forward Cassius Mailula was signed by American side Toronto in July 2023 as a young prospect but the diminutive striker could not breakthrough in the first team and was sent out on loan to Wydad Casablanca in August last year.
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