How Keanu Cupido suffered from lack of playing time at Mamelodi Sundowns!

South African defender Keanu Cupido has opened up about the psychological challenges of fighting for playing time at Mamelodi Sundowns after his January move from Cape Town City. The 27-year-old center-back, once a youth international, found himself struggling to break into the star-studded lineup of the PSL champions.

After just two league appearances and one cup start, Cupido seized his moment in Sundowns' Club World Cup opener against Ulsan HD on Wednesday. His 85-minute masterclass helped secure a 1-0 victory in Group 6, earning him plaudits as one of the match's standout performers.

The Mental Grind

"Honestly, the waiting game drains you," Cupido confessed to reporters. "Those brief substitute appearances and single cup start felt like distant memories after weeks on the sidelines. But I'm blessed with a strong support system - coming home to my wife and son kept me grounded."

Rather than complain, the defender channeled his frustration into training intensity: "Blaming others gets you nowhere. My focus was staying ready so I wouldn't have to get ready. When this chance came, I owed it to the club to repay their trust."

His mental preparation proved decisive. "I'd visualized this opportunity for weeks. When it arrived, everything clicked into place - that performance was months of unseen work finally becoming visible."