RB Leipzig chairman Johann Plenge cites sporting and cultural appeal for friendly against Mamelodi Sundowns in May 

RB Leipzig will travel to South Africa in May for a high-profile friendly against Mamelodi Sundowns, the Betway Premiership defending champions, with chairman Johann Plenge outlining the reasoning behind the decision.

Speaking about the upcoming match, Plenge emphasized that the choice to face Sundowns was influenced by both sporting and cultural factors.

“I think there are two main reasons. One is the sporting perspective,” Plenge said. “Of course, we want to have an ambitious opponent. We’ve all seen the quality of Sundowns at the FIFA Club World Cup. We know of their remarkable success, winning the Premier Soccer League eight consecutive times. We want to play against the best, and Sundowns is a perfect match from a sporting perspective.”

Plenge also highlighted the cultural and experiential appeal of facing the South African side. According to him, Sundowns’ focus on creating a positive, emotional, and friendly atmosphere in football aligns with Leipzig’s vision of developing their club step by step.

“From a cultural and value standpoint, Sundowns is ideal. A club that creates a football environment with passion and emotion is very appealing to us, and from our experience with them, we think they are a perfect opponent,” Plenge explained.

Beyond sporting and cultural considerations, Plenge noted that the trip would benefit from strong commercial partnerships. Both Red Bull and Puma have existing relationships with Sundowns, which will help facilitate the tour.

“There are several more reasons,” Plenge said. “Partners that we share, like Red Bull and Puma, will be a big help in setting up this tour in May.”

The friendly promises to be an exciting clash between European and African champions, offering fans in South Africa the rare opportunity to see one of Germany’s top clubs in action, while giving Leipzig a chance to challenge themselves against a dominant African team in a unique cultural setting.

This match also underlines RB Leipzig’s ambition to expand their brand internationally while engaging in meaningful football exchanges, blending competitive football with cultural experiences for players and supporters alike.