Furman wants to win over fans
IT WAS quite fascinating for Dean Furman to see supporters from different PSL teams rallying behind Mamelodi Sundowns during the club’s journey to being crowned CAF Champions League champs last year.
In Europe, where Furman played in the English Championship, this is unheard of. For example, supporters of Spanish giants Barcelona would not accept any money in the world to support rivals Real Madrid in the Uefa Champions League, and vice-versa.
So, you can understand why Furman finds the SA culture quite interesting and “special”.
He hopes SuperSport can do well enough in the Confederations Cup this year to win over the hearts of all South Africans, like their neighbours Sundowns. Matsatsantsa face Sudanese outfit Al Ahly Shandy at Shendi Stadium on Sunday (7.30pm) in a first-round, first leg clash. “You only have to look at the teams which have represented South Africa on the continent to see how well they have done. But more so how the country has got behind them, which I think is quite special.
“I don’t think you’d get Chelsea and Arsenal fans supporting Manchester United in the Champions League,” said Furman. “We are hoping we can make the country proud. We know there’ sa tough job, but we are keen to do well.”
Furman is one of a number of SuperSport players who have experience of playing on the continent, either with Bafana Bafana or previous clubs. Furman, in fact, got a chance to play in Sudan with Bafana during the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. “The conditions will be hot and the crowd hostile.”
Platinum Stars are away to Ugandan side Vipers at Bunamwaya Stadium tomorrow (3.30pm).