Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi says Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams’ international recognition is something very big for African football and all Africans should be proud of Williams.  

The 32-year-old Sundowns goalkeeper had an outstanding season last term in the African football.  

Williams won the DStv Premiership Goalkeeper of the Season, Footballer of the Season, becoming the third goalkeeper in the PSL to win the latter gong which was done previously by Andre Arendse and Itumeleng Khune.  

The former SuperSport United goalkeeper also won the Goalkeeper of the Tournament award in the African Football League. That was not enough for the Gqeberha-born talented goalkeeper as he helped Bafana Bafana to win the bronze medal in the AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast this year.  

In Ivory Coast, Williams won the Goalkeeper of the Tournament award and was also included in the Team of the Tournament, alongside his teammate at both Bafana Bafana and Sundowns Teboho Mokoena.  

In May, Williams was recognized by the COSAFA as he won the COSAFA Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year. Williams recently got a nomination for the Ballon d’Or Yachine Trophy award, alongside the likes of Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa and other renowned goalkeepers in the world.  

Mngqithi shared his excitement about his goalkeeper. “It’s very good for the club, it’s very good for the country and it’s very good for the continent to get recognized at that level,” Mngqithi said about Williams.  

“I think for the player himself and his family it’s also something unbelievable because nobody would have thought that a goalkeeper from Sundowns would get a nomination into the Ballon d’Or as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.  

“That speaks a lot, and the fact that he is even there regardless of the outcome – it’s very big for African football, it’s very big for Mamelodi Sundowns and it’s very big for all of us as South Africans. So, we should be very proud that we’ve got one of our representing at that level of football,” he concluded. 

Williams is now in France as he traveled during the weekend to attend the 2024 Ballon d’Or awards ceremony which will take place on Monday night, missing Sundowns’ loss to Polokwane City on Sunday.  

Last week Williams got another recognition from the CAF. He is nominated for the CAF Goalkeeper of the Year alongside the Cameroonian goalkeeper Andre Onana of Manchester United, as well as other African goalkeepers. Williams is also nominated in the CAF Inter-Club Player of the Year and also in the CAF Player of the Year. 

Article by Gabriel Hlakanyana