Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams emphasized his belief in the team’s potential despite widespread doubts about their CAF Champions League semi-final aspirations.

The Bafana Bafana captain played a pivotal role in Sundowns’ 1-0 aggregate victory over ES Esperance, following a goalless draw in Rades on Tuesday.

This achievement marks Sundowns’ third consecutive semi-final appearance, a historic feat for both the club and South African football in the CAF’s premier club competition.

Sundowns are now set to face their familiar rivals, Al Ahly, who are the defending champions, in the two-legged semi-finals later this month.  

“It’s massive for the club and massive for the country as well to be where we are now; many people doubted us,” Williams stated on the club media. 

“But I said it from the beginning, doubt this team at your own expense because I see the work that it does on the daily basis. 
 

“I’m just proud to be part of this team and just to see the character of how the boys are willing to learn, grow, and to fight because we never had this fight,” he added.

Doubts arose following Sundowns’ sluggish start in the group stages, where they failed to win their first two matches. This prompted the club’s management to part ways with coach Manqoba Mngqithi in December, replacing him with Miguel Cardoso, who has now guided Sundowns to the semi-finals. Notably, Cardoso was in charge of Esperance last season, eliminating Sundowns in the semi-finals before his dismissal in October.

“When we beat them at home [in the first leg of the quarter finals], we change the history of the club, you know, because we haven’t beaten them before,” said Williams.

“When we beat them at home, I knew, and I had a feeling that this year is ours.  

“The coach played an important role; he knows them, so he gave us all the insight, how they were going to play, what they’re going to do, and the possibilities.  
 

“So, we knew the threats, we knew their weaknesses, and we knew it’s going to be a game of small margins. And that’s exactly how it was last year.” 

The Tshwane giants, who returned on Wednesday, are now preparing to host Kaizer Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup semi-final at Loftus Stadium on Sunday at 18:00.

Article by Kamogelo Ndlovu