Mngqithi Challenges Williams To Reach 100 Bafana Caps

Bafana Bafana captain and Mamelodi Sundowns vice captain Ronwen Williams has received special praise from his coach Manqoba Mngqithi for getting the 50th Cap in Bafana Bafana.
Williams made his debut for Bafana Bafana in March 2014 in their 5-0 loss to Brazil in a friendly game at FNB Stadium.
The 32-year-old made his 50th Cap for Bafana Bafana against South Sudan at DHL Stadium on Tuesday and managed to keep a clean sheet. Williams’ teammate at both Sundowns and Bafana Bafana – Themba Zwane also earned his 50th cap in October against Congo Brazzaville in Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Mngqithi says he is happy for Williams as he received his 50th cap this week. “I was so excited for him [Williams to receive his 50th cap in Bafana Bafana] because besides being a good goalkeeper, I think he is a very good human being, I think he is a good athlete and a good leader,” Mngqithi said.
The former Golden Arrows coach also said that if Williams was another player he would have stopped playing football because of the injuries he was always getting in football.
The Umzimkhulu-born coach also revealed the next target for Williams. “For him to go that far with all the injuries that he has had in his career at his young age because Ronwen has had a lot of injuries that have always tried to destabilize his career [it’s something special].
“The shoulder and the knee have been coming in and out. Maybe if he was somebody else he would have said ‘Let me leave this thing because this thing is too much.’ “And maybe he could have left football before joining a club like Sundowns. For him to go all the way the way he has done and cement his place in the national team and also in the team the way he has done I think it’s something that a lot of youngsters should try and learn from.”
Aaron Mokoena is the most-capped player for Bafana Bafana with 105 caps, followed by Itumeleng Khune with 91.
“It is also iconic to have players from the same club following each other like that in terms of getting to the 50th cap. But I still believe he can make 100 and I will be happier when he gets more than 100,” he added.
Williams is now with his team Sundowns preparing for the Carling Knockout Cup final game against Magesi at Toyota Stadium on Saturday (18;00).