Online Reporter
Fungai Muderere, Zimpapers Sports Hub
WARRIORS and Mamelodi Sundowns leftback Divine Lunga, has been named in the Sofascore’s Best XI after round one of the group stage matches of the on-going 2025 Fifa Club World Cup, in United States of America.
The Mpopoma bred Lunga produced a top drawer performance when Mamelodi Sundowns edged South Korean outfit Ulsan HD in their opening Group F encounter, played on Wednesday.
Lunga became the first Zimbabwean to qualify and play at the new-look tournament.
The Zimbabwean international, who has previously turned out for Chicken Inn and Ajax Hotspurs locally, played a pivotal role in neutralising Ulsan’s strategy, which heavily targeted his flank through winger Um Won-sang’s runs.
Lunga made several crucial tackles, including a vital first-half goal-line clearance that prevented Ulsan from scoring. He recorded the highest number of tackles in the match.
With a Sofascore rating of 8 out of 10, the 30-year-old is the highest-rated leftback in round one of the group stage.
The best XI is dominated by Bayern Munich, who have six players.
Lunga will be expected to play a crucial role in the forthcoming 2025 Warriors Afcon campaign alongside captain Marvelous Nakamba, equally combative Gerald Takwara, Teenage Hadebe and senior national team returnees, Knowledge Musona and Khama Billiat.
Lunga moved to South Africa’s elite football league in 2018 from Chicken Inn, following an agreement to join Golden Arrows.
The period he has spent in South Africa has since met the requirement to apply for permanent residency and that has allowed Sundowns to register him on their books as a local.
Lunga is set to receive megabucks, with the amounts dependent on how far the club goes in the tournament. Already, Mamelodi Sundowns are guaranteed US$2 million for being part of the 32-team Fifa Club World Cup.
