Q&A with Bafana Bafana & Mamelodi Sundowns defender Sailor Mudau

PUMA South Africa: What is the attraction to playing in the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations?

Sailor Mudau: All I want is to see myself on the same playing field with the best players the continent has to offer. I’ve admired them for the longest time and now I get to test myself against them.

Your impressions of the home nation who played Bafana Bafana in October last year?

Playing Ivory Coast was a great experience for me. They were tough opponents with very good players.

Which player are you most looking forward to playing against?

Mohammed Salah. He’s been the best.

What are the strengths of Bafana Bafana?

The team is well balanced with players who are fighters and hungry for success.

Many footballers across the world head for Europe to grow their careers, but what are the pros and cons?

Europe offers a broader audience and opportunities to grow at the highest level. Ambitious players don’t worry about the cons, we are self-driven. But the PSL and African club competitions have shown a significant steady growth in the past 2 years, so I’m enjoying the tough competition.

When you watch football live or on TV do you relax and enjoy the game or are you working?

I watch most matches with the intention of learning how to dominate opponents and to better time my forward runs into attack.

What qualities does it take to be an elite player in your position?

I play as an offensive right back. So tactical discipline and great fitness levels are key. One needs to be confident in defence and be able to read the game, when to tuck in or be offensive.

Which boots do you play in?

PUMA Ultra all the way. The boots are very light, and the traction is great.