Short on size, long on skill: Sundowns hit the Club World Cup

South African football continues to be a story apart on the continent, and on Tuesday evening, it enters centre stage at the Club World Cup. Mamelodi Sundowns, the richest club in Africa, stand out in more ways than one. They are officially the shortest team at the competition.

Depending on who you ask, football can be all about size and strength – but for the team led by former Celta boss Miguel Cardoso, it's more about fluid movement and expressive play.

Their approach takes clear inspiration from Brazilian footballing tradition. So much so that their green and yellow kit is a direct nod to the Selecao, and they're affectionately known at home as The Brazilians.

When it comes to numbers, Sundowns average just 176.5 centimetres per player, according to BeSoccer Pro – one full centimetre shorter than Japanese side Urawa Reds. They're also smaller on average than Pachuca (178.5), River Plate (179.1), Al Hilal (179.4), Monterrey (179.6), Boca Juniors (179.6) and Al Ain (179.8).

Tuesday's opponents, Ulsan, are right in the middle of the pack with an average height of 181 centimetres. Later on in the group stage, Sundowns will face the third-tallest team in the tournament – Borussia Dortmund, who boast an average of 184.5, almost ten centimetres taller.

Set-pieces could be one to watch. Their final group opponent, Fluminense, are also on the shorter side (180.2).

Helping drag the average down are two of the shortest players in the entire Club World Cup: winger Siyabonga Mabena and full-back Thato Sibiya, both measuring 1.62 metres. Only one player at the tournament is shorter – Fluminense's Venezuelan player Yeferson Soteldo, who comes in at 1.60.

At the other end of the scale, Sundowns count on goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse and centre-back Malibongwe Khoza, who stand 1.94 and 1.91 respectively. But that's where the exceptions end: 23 of the 35 players registered by The Brazilians are under 1.80, and six of them don't even reach 1.70.

Then again, this is a team that dances to its own rhythm. Their other nicknames? Bafana ba Style (The Stylish People) and Shoe Shine and Piano. Size might not be their strength – but swagger certainly is.