Ronwen Williams: Sundowns are in the Club World Cup to compete, not just show up

Landing in the United States among football royalty like Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and PSG, the South African champions are widely seen as underdogs. But Williams insists the Brazilians aren't here to make up the numbers - they're here to make a statement.

"We have to be ourselves and stick to our identity," Williams said, emphasizing the team's commitment to its philosophy, regardless of the high-profile opposition. "We don't want to go there, change things and start playing in a different way because of the strength of the opposition. We want to play our football and believe we have enough to get out of the group."

And that group isn't exactly forgiving. Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, and South Korea's Ulsan HD stand in Sundowns' way. But Williams is confident: "For us to get out of the group would be massive - and we believe we can."

For the Sundowns' shot-stopper, this isn't just another tournament - it's a career-defining moment. "This is massive and probably the biggest club competition. We are excited and looking forward to it," he said.

Ideally, Williams admits, they'd have loved to arrive as CAF Champions League winners. Instead, they come nursing the wounds of a gut-wrenching exit - one he describes as the hardest defeat of his career. But even in disappointment, Sundowns are determined to rise.

"We have to dig deep again, because no one is going to do it for us," he declared. "While others are on holidays, we're still grinding. That's what it means to be part of Sundowns - always looking to the next competition. As tough as it is, we love it and enjoy it."

From Pretoria to the world stage, Sundowns are ready to test themselves against the best - not to survive, but to compete. Williams and his teammates know the odds - and they're embracing the challenge head-on.