Williams set for first meeting with Mendy as Sundowns face Al Ahli

Mamelodi Sundowns captain Ronwen Williams will finally come up against Senegal goalkeeper Eduardo Mendy when the African club champions host Al Ahli in the African-Asian-Pacific Cup on Saturday.

The intercontinental contest brings together two sides packed with players who have appeared at a World Cup, raising the standard of the fixture beyond a conventional club match.

Sundowns, the leading force in African club football, will face the Asian champions with more than silverware at stake. FIFA will present the winners with a trophy and medals, along with USD2 million (approx. R32,5 million) and qualification for the Challenger Cup. The losing team will receive medals and half of the winners’ prize money.

Williams, Ricardo Goss, Khulumani Ndamane, Aubrey Modiba, Teboho Mokoena, Themba Zwane and Iqraam Rayners are among the Sundowns players who have been to a World Cup.

The South African side will be without Khuliso Mudau, who is injured.

Al Ahli’s squad includes Mendy, Brazilian defender Roger Ibanez, England striker Ivan Toney, Turkey defender Merih Demiral and Portugal international Francisco Trincao. The Saudi club also have three players who were part of the Saudi squad at the World Cup.

Williams said he was aware of the international experience within Al Ahli’s team and welcomed the opportunity to face Mendy for the first time.

“When you look at their team there are so many guys that were at the World Cup,” Williams said.

“Demiral played for Turkey, Ibanez with Brazil and obviously like you mentioned Ivan Toney.

“Mendy, someone that I obviously know quite well having watched his career and seen him achieve amazing things with Senegal.

“So, it will be good to finally face him.

“I haven’t gotten an opportunity to play against him.

“I have obviously taken keen interest on his career what he has done for the goalkeeping department.

“He has been amazing.”

Williams added that Al Ahli’s quality extended beyond their World Cup players, pointing to Trincao’s experience with the Portugal national team.

“It is a team with a lot of experience, high-quality players, Trincao who was in the Portuguese national team, so it is going to be a good one because we also have a number of players that were at the World Cup,” he said.

“So, it will be a good competition, a good game and we just need to prepare well.”