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Cape Town - Mamelodi Sundowns have arrived safely in Osaka ahead of their participation in the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.
Sundowns defeated Egyptian giants Zamalek SC in the CAF Champions League to secure their place in the global club event.
Skipper Hlompho Kekana received a FIFA Participation Plaque during the team's welcome presentation on Tuesday from FIFA General Co-ordinator Luis Castro - after becoming the second visiting team to arrive.
Pitso Mosimane's charges are making their debut appearance at the tournament and are in fact the first South African club to ever appear at the Club World Cup - previously known as the FIFA Club World Championship - which was first contested in 2000.
The only other South African club to have won the CAF Champions League was Orlando Pirates in 1995.
The team seem to be settling well in Japan, with attacking midfielder Keagan Dolly getting into Japanese culture by donning a kimono.
Sundown's midfielder Mzikayise Mashaba told FIFA that despite the varying playing conditions, the South African club have been welcomed by the Japanese community, saying: "I'm very happy to be able to play in such a wonderful tournament held in such a great country like Japan."
"It's a bit colder than in South Africa but people here are very kind and I felt the town, roads are very organised... We want to advance all the way to the final and play against Real Madrid in the final."
Masandawana will play New Zealand’s Auckland City or Japan’s Kashima Antlers on Sunday, December 11.
Here's what the team have been getting up to since their arrival in Japan:
Here's what the African Champions will be doing on this jam packed Wednesday in Osaka. pic.twitter.com/CZ5Gc6tIOY
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) December 7, 2016
Hlompho receiving the Team Participation Plaque from Luis Castro, FIFA's General Coordinator, during the welcome presentation by FIFA. pic.twitter.com/H7TqlqADO0
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) December 7, 2016
