Mamelodi Sundowns captain, Ronwen Williams, has been at the peak of his powers, and comes as no surprise to see why he is Africa’s best shot-stopper after being nominated for three prestigious awards.
Williams has been nominated among a 10-man shortlist for the Yashin Trophy, the most coveted individual award a goalkeeper can receive. This incredible achievement has put him in high regard as the only and first-ever African-based player to be nominated for it.
“It’s going to open doors for South Africans to start thinking and dreaming bigger”, said Williams.
Since joining former African champions Mamelodi Sundowns from boyhood club SuperSport United in July 2022, Williams has been on a meteoric rise and has grabbed his opportunity with both hands. The 32-year-old played a pivotal role in Mamelodi Sundowns’ back-to-back titles which elevated his place in the national team to being the number shot-stopper in the country.
To date, African football icon George Weah remains the only African to be voted the best player in the world after winning the Ballon d’Or in 1995 ahead of German legend Jurgen Klinsmann and Finland’s Jari Litman.
George Weah was also the first non-European to win this prestigious award.
Furthermore, Williams has been nominated for African Player of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, and Interclub Player of the Year at the upcoming Confederation of African Football awards. This emphasizes the quality Williams is as a goalkeeper and adds to the growing achievements the Bafana Bafana captain has already accomplished.
At the most recent Africa Cup of Nations, Williams was the standout performer for Bafana Bafana showcasing his talent at the highest level where he saved four penalties to see off Cape Verde in the quarterfinals of the competition.
That memorable victory meant they had to face the DR Congo in the third-place play-off and again the Bafana captain stood firm proving his heroics in another penalty shootout where South Africa walked away 6-5 winners to claim the bronze medal.
Belgian tactician and Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos, has dramatically changed the look and to some degree the culture of the national team. He faced scrutiny in his early days as Bafana coach but results soon changed all that as he has delivered whenever he has been called upon.
Broos has been nominated for Coach of the Year and Mamelodi Sundowns has been nominated as Club of the Year.
Written by Marc Strydom.