SOUTH Africa: Khama Billiat believes the FIFA Club World Cup provides the stage to show who they are as Mamelodi Sundowns.
The Brazilians will get going on Sunday (12h30 SA time) at the Suita City Stadium in Osaka, Japan against host club Kashima Antlers in a match that will introduce the men from Chloorkop to a global audience.
For all that Sundowns have done locally and in Africa they have now moved a step up on the ladder to box against other continental heavyweights.
“We need to show who we are,” says Billiat.
“We are African champions and we need to show that. We don’t just play like we are fighting relegation. We need to show who Mamelodi Sundowns is and we need to bring this form for Mamelodi Sundowns and if we bring the best form for ourselves it is going to be easier for us because we believe we can match anyone. It is exciting,” he notes.
With Sundowns’ opening match getting closer the adrenalin must surely be on the upswing.
“It is a great feeling but at the same time we need to know what we are going to do, we are not just going there to have fun. We are going there to give everything that we have and we are going to meet the best so we should be on top of our game and be in the right state of mind.
“The more we get closer the more you get to really know that this is reality and we need to keep our nerves down because we don’t want to go there and start panicking and look like we have never played or won anything before.
“We just want to go there and try to do what we have always been doing and not be carried away because it is a bigger tournament,” says the Sundowns kingpin.
For a man who will play a Club World Cup this month and then cross over to the AFCON finals next month with The Warriors, these are exciting times in his career.
“You got to be professional about it and look at it in a very honest way that we have been waiting for this. I have been waiting for this moment and it is getting closer.
“Am I ready? What more do I need to do before and maybe rectify certain areas and to work little bit harder than before so that it will be a bit easier. Although it is not going to be easier in certain areas you need to work and improve.Advertisement

“But yeah, it is a bit scary to try and think how you are going to perform,” says the Zimbabwean.